Water quality concerns and invasive species put Ballyhooly housing plans on hold

The planning notice, erected this summer, for the addition of extra housing to An Gleann Ull in Ballyhooly. (ES)

Ongoing concerns over water quality in the River Blackwater and the extensive growth of non-native invasive species have put plans for additional housing and serviced sites within the An Gleann Ull estate in Ballyhooly on hold.

A planning application for the removal of seven partially constructed house bases, originally permitted in 2005, and the construction of six semi-detached three-storey houses and eight residential serviced sites was submitted to Cork County Council by Ballyhooly Homes Ltd back in July.

The Council has now ruled that further information is required before a decision can be made; on issues including the prevalence of Japanese knotweed and other invasive species within the site and the potential requirement for upgrades to the Ballyhooly Wastewater Treatment Plant.

TREATMENT PLANT

Referencing the 2016 Annual Environmental Report – as part of the EPA licence for the Ballyhooly Wastewater Treatment Plant – the Council indicated that there is a deterioration in water quality downstream of the treatment plant.

However, it is not known if this is caused by the treatment plant or not.

Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition