Another waste facility in Churchfield would be 'excessive', rules An Bord Pleanála
Developing a civic amenity bring site in the midst of a number of housing estates on the northside of Cork city would result in an 'excessive concentration' of waste facilities in the area, according to An Bord Pleanála.
The planning authority has rejected an appeal by Greener Families Ltd, a sister company of Country Clean, to build a civic amenity bring site at Churchfield Industrial Estate. Country Clean already operates a waste transfer and sorting facility in the industrial estate.
The appeal was against a decision made by Cork City Council on April 10, 2018, to refuse planning for the construction of the civic amenity/bring facility along with the associated structures and buildings.
In making their decision, planners raised concerns about the waste amenities already in the area.
The planning report said the development would result in an excessive concentration of such facilities in an urban area.
Despite mitigation measures proposed in the noise management plan, odour management plan and waste management report submitted.
The planners said the development would "seriously injure the amenities of properties in the vicinity" and be contrary to the "proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
Planners also highlighted the large volume of housing in the area. Ard Aláinn estate is '50-60 metres' to the south-east of the site, and lands 'immediately to the north are also zoned for future housing development', they noted.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent welcomed the decision to reject the plan.
"It is just not suitable for the area," he said. "There is bad lighting, poor footpaths and high concentration of housing and sports clubs, not to mention that there are already three waste processing facilities in the area."
Greener Families Ltd said it will 'review the decision in due course.'
"We still believe in view of the levels of illegal dumping in the city, that the city is in need of a state of the art civic amenity centre," a spokesperson said.
"We were very much encouraged by the level of local support we received to our planning application and we’d like to thank everyone for their support."
