DUBLIN, Ireland: An Coimisíun Pleanála has overturned a decision of the Cork City Council to grant permission to a developer to construct 55 homes on the outskirts of the city, citing road safety hazards.

The Commission overturned the decision handed to developer, Donal Cox, for the construction of the units at Blackstone Bridge, Upper Fairhill, Lower Killeens, Cork. The plans included the demolition of an existing building and sheds on the 2.76-hectare site to clear the way for the development.

However, the Commission took into account appeals from three residents who warned about the number of road accidents in the area, citing its steepness, narrowness, and poor condition, while ruling against the Council decision.

The residents claimed the road would be unsuitable for any construction traffic while the development itself would "scar the landscape."

The developer had initially wanted to construct 88 new housing units on the site, consisting of 32 houses, 40 duplexes across ten three-storey blocks, and 16 apartments in three three-storey blocks.

However, Cox subsequently revised the plans after council planners said a revised layout would be needed to provide better connectivity with the proposed Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Route (CNDMR).

The local authority had also expressed concern that part of the site lies within a 100-metre corridor of the planned CNDMR.

Outlining its ruling, An Coimisiún Pleanála said the development site is located on a minor local road "which is seriously substandard in terms of width, gradient, and alignment."

The Commission said the proposed entrance to the development would endanger public safety. It would also pose a traffic hazard due to the additional turning movements on a substandard road with restricted sightlines in both directions.

The Commission said the road was too steep and that the entrance to the development would be on a sharp bend. It also pointed out that there were not enough safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Commission said it was not satisfied with the developer's plan to deal with several road safety issues at a later design stage. It said these safety problems needed to be resolved before any planning permission could be granted.

It also refused outline permission because it believed the project was being proposed too early, before the final design and layout of the planned CNDMR were completed.

The developer said a road safety audit showed the planned access was safe, suitable for its purpose, and would provide high-quality facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Some residents also raised concerns with Cork City Council, saying the development could harm biodiversity near the River Bride and noting that the site is close to a possible flood storage area.