The debt-laden Cork County GAA Board is on track to generate €75 million from its planned 319-unit housing scheme for Cork city. The board has lodged fast-track plans with An Bord Pleanála for a strategic housing development (SHD) scheme on a Cork GAA-owned site at Old Whitechurch Road, Kilbarry, on the northern fringes of Cork city.
In documents lodged with the appeals board, consultant for the GAA board, Coakley O’Neill Town Planning has put an indicative price tag of €15 million on the sale of 20 per cent of the scheme – or 64 homes – for social housing to Cork City Council. Based on the estimate Cork County Board will realise €75 million from the sale of the 319 homes, and the board is to pay down its debt from its Páirc Uí Chaoimh redevelopment from the profits from the development.
The most recent accounts for Cork County Board show the Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium debt stood at €29.74 million at the end of last September.
The planned Kilbarry scheme is comprised of 85 semi-detached homes; 118 terraced units; 53 duplex units and 63 apartments.
The 37-acre site, which lies adjacent to Delgany Rovers GAA Club, is comprised of open fields under grass, scrub, and gorse, while an old hurley manufacturing facility lies derelict at the western side.
Advancing the case for the scheme, Coakley & O’Neill Town Planning said it “will provide much needed housing units, at an appropriate density … in an area of Cork City that has not benefited from the provision of a significantly scaled private housing development in many years”.
On lodging the plans, chief executive of Cork GAA Kevin O’Donovan said: “This project is a key element of the financial security of Cork GAA and the ongoing stabilisation of our finances.”
