Cork City Council has approved the demolition of two blocks of ageing flats in Cork City where residents complained of appalling living conditions.
Those living on Noonan’s Rd have been campaigning for several years for improvements to their homes.
Refurbishment and retrofitting options for the apartment blocks were ruled out, considering the poor state of the building’s structures.
The 60 flats at the site were built some 60 years ago on St Finbarr’s Rd. Many of the flats have seen issues with mould, damp, rodents, as well as crumbling masonry.
Councillors were told the first phase will see the demolition of half of the flats, which hold around 30 apartments.
The plan, which was welcomed by most councillors, will see the removal of gardens, boundary walls, sheds, fencing, as well as the disconnection and removal of services.
Additionally, new soft landscaping will be used to help prepare for the future proposed construction of a new multi-unit housing development.
Fencing will also be placed around the site to form a boundary to stop anti-social behaviour and dumping after demolition.
Cork City Council added that it will bring in a licensed specialist contractor to carry out the required survey and removal where asbestos is identified.
“Any and all removal and disposal will be undertaken under strict procedures. The appropriate notice, should asbestos be identified, will be submitted to the HSA,” it added.
Meanwhile, a proposal to develop 24 homes in Grange has been welcomed by councillors.
The Cooney’s Lane development will see the demolition of the existing buildings in the area before the construction of two one-bedroom houses, 16 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments. The development will also see the creation of 11 car parking spaces.
Some 48 submissions were received by the council, including one objection that stated that having a three-storey building in the planning would not “keep with the architectural style or the established character of the local area”. It added that it could lead to a loss of privacy, daylight and a possible increase in noise as the development would overlook neighbouring properties and gardens.
In response, a spokesperson for the council said that “careful consideration of fenestration positions will further ensure that the proposed development will not give rise to any adverse local impacts in respect of overlooking or privacy”.
“Notwithstanding this, the Council has taken the submissions into account, the proposal has been re-designed and the apartment block has been amended to a two-storey development which will reduce the types of impacts suggested in the submissions/observations,” added the spokesperson.