New era for CMP site?
A new lease of life is on the cards for the former CMP site after city councillors this week agreed unanimously to rezone the land.
Councillors gave the go ahead for the 3.2 hectare site located at the junction of Tramore Road and Kinsale Road to be changed from a light industrial use to a residential, local services, and institutional uses.
This change can lead the way for a primary care centre to be built on the site which was one of the main topics outlined in a report to the city’s elected members from officials at City Hall. A planning application was submitted but later withdrawn in 2017 looking for permission to build a primary care centre. The site was developed as a creamery in the 1950s however, CMP Dairies closed the facility in 2006. All buildings associated with this previous use have since been demolished and the site is currently vacant.
Management in City Hall recommended the rezoning for two main reasons. Ann Doherty, Chief Executive of Cork City Council, said during her report on the site: “There is not a strong demand for new light industrial uses at this location and there is an urgent need for more residential development in Cork city. The site is suitable for residential development with regard to accessibility and proximate amenities.”
Development plan policies allow for planning applications for primary care centres to be considered on residentially zoned lands.
Ms Doherty explained: “The HSE has established that the development of a primary care centre in the southern part of the city is a high priority and that this is one of the sites that meets HSE criteria, given its location relative to the intended customer base and its location on a bus route.”
Ms Doherty added: “Dairygold, the owner of the site, states support for the rezoning and states that it will facilitate the redevelopment the site to provide a mixed-use primarily residential development, primary care centre, and associated local services.”
Meanwhile, councillors also paved the way for 57 units to be built in Blackpool.
The proposed site of 1.55 hectares is situated on the former Boland Mills on Old Mallow Road where there are currently industrial units on site.
It is proposed to demolish the existing buildings on site and construct 57 residential units in 11 blocks over two and three storeys as part of the redevelopment, which would be through the competitive dialogue process purchasing the land from the third party.