Boyce’s Street set for €11m revamp

A neglected historic area of Cork city that has been blighted by burnt-out homes is set for a major re-development.

Cork City Council has received more than €11 million in funding to build 50 housing units at Boyce’s Street and Upper Cattle Market Street in the Blarney Street area of the city.

A council official has confirmed to the Cork Independent that the local authority has received “Stage 1 funding approval of circa €11.5m for the construction of 50 units of accommodation at Boyce’s Street and Upper Cattle Market Street”.

The council source said that the proposals have been discussed with the local ward members and the local community will be consulted in the near future in advance of the project proceeding to the planning stage.

Local councillor Ken O’Flynn said: “We met with City Council on Monday night and the architect’s office. They have secured more than €11m in funding for Boyce’s Street. There was flats that were burnt down on Boyce’s Street and there has been a lot of anti-social behaviour there so this is very welcome.”

The Fianna Fáil councillor said that 44 units are going to knocked down and house and duplex apartments are going to be built there instead.

He said it is going to “give a new dynamic” to both Boyce’s Street and Upper Cattle Market Street. The funding has been secured from central Government.

“So you’re talking about two new schemes being built in the area incorporating house and apartment living, going from 44 units to 50 brand new state of-the-art units.

Tenants who are already living in the area will be moved and will have the choice to move back after the new units are built.

Cllr O’Flynn continued: “We will going out to public in the next week or two and then we will be going in for Part A planning permission in March and we hope to break ground soon after that.

“We are also engineering a lot of solutions to deal with the anti-social behaviour in the area. There are plans to close off areas that have been nuisance areas for a long time,” Cllr O’Flynn added.