Cork City Council has approved Part 8 planning permission for 147 new cost rental and social apartments in the city centre that will be delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA) in partnership with the local authority.
City councillors approved planning for the Anglesea Terrace development at the February meeting of Cork City Council on Monday.
It will be built on a site at the junction of Old Station Road and the South Link Road, within short walking distance of all city centre amenities, retail and community services, Kent Station and Cork Bus Station.
The development will vary in height from four to 16 storeys at its tallest point, will complement the nearby Elysian building, and will be accessed by Old Station Road and Anglesea Terrace.
The scheme requires the demolition of all existing structures including four existing buildings, boundary walls, the removal of an existing car park and all associated site clearance works, to pave the way for the construction of:
A report to councillors on Monday set out the responses to the various issues raised during the public consultation, and explained that the proposed development has been intentionally designed as a car-free scheme in accordance with national and local policy, including Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments (2025), which supports the removal of private car parking in largescale residential developments located in highly accessible urban areas.
The development has been designed to promote walking, cycling and public transport with a strong emphasis on pedestrian priority, safety and permeability, and having regard to the proposed BusConnects Sustainable Transport Corridor proposed nearby.
Future occupants will be informed from the outset that no parking is available, with the layout prioritising walking, cycling and public transport through extensive secure bicycle parking and strong pedestrian connections.
There will be no resident vehicular access, parking or car entrances, and primary pedestrian and cyclist access — including the main entrance and bicycle parking — will be provided from Old Station Road, which connects directly to the wider road network and public transport corridors.
On completion of the ongoing detailed design process, the project will then move to tender stage, with works targeted to begin in 2027, delivering first homes in 2030.
This is the latest step in the LDA’s ongoing positive progress in Cork.
The Agency is set to deliver the first of 267 homes at the site of the former St Kevin’s Hospital in Shanakiel later this year and received planning for 345 homes at a former ESB site in Wilton in August 2025.
The Agency is also active in the Cork Docklands, developing 302 apartments at Horgan’s Quay in partnership with HQ Developments Residential Company Ltd and a further 337 apartments in partnership with Glenveagh Properties at Marina Depot and has recently agreed the transfer of IDA land in Kilbarry with the potential to deliver 1,000 homes.
Brian Geaney, the Assistant Chief Executive of Cork City Council, said the development will provide much needed homes and will help contribute to dealing with the pent-up demand for housing in Cork City.
“The proposed development will greatly improve the provision of secure, high-quality cost rental and social housing in Cork City, in full alignment with the Cork City Development Plan 2022–2028 and national housing policy objectives under Housing for All,” Mr Geaney said.
Phelim O’Neill, Director of Development at the Land Development Agency, said this is great news for the LDA and for Cork.
“We worked carefully on the design for this site before putting forward a strong set of plans for a high-quality development,” Mr O’Neill said.
“We are pleased that planning has been approved and we are now looking forward to getting construction underway.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Cork City Council to deliver much needed affordable housing in the heart of Cork City.
“Anglesea Terrace is a fantastic site with great potential. When realised, this underutilised brownfield site will become high quality affordable housing that can act as a catalyst for rejuvenation in the local community and create positive societal impact for Cork City.”
