Cork County Council grants permission for 452-home scheme at Water-Rock, Midleton, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 157 housing scheme applications Cork County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,568 nationally. Of the 3,037 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 79% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 27 May 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Cork County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

A 10 year planning permission for a Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) at Water-Rock, Midleton, Co. Cork. The development will consist of the construction of a residential development of 452 no. residential units with supporting resident amenity facilities, a single-storey crèche, and all ancillary site development works. The development will be delivered on a phased basis. The proposed development makes provision for 219 no. two storey houses, comprising 17 no. detached units (14 no. 4-bed units and 3 no. 3-bed units), 120 no. semi-detached units (104 no. 4-bed units and 16 no. 3-bed units), 82 no. 3-bed terraced units. The proposed 233 no. apartment / duplex units, comprising 99 no. duplex/own-door apartments (42 no. 3-bed units, 15 no. 2-bed units and 42 no. 1-bed units) in 20 no. 3 storey blocks and 134 no. apartments units (74 no. 2-bed units, 32 no. 1-bed units and 28 no. studio apartments) in 4 no. 3 – part 5 storey blocks. The proposal makes provision for 2 no. communal rooms in apartment Block C and Block E, outdoor amenity areas including a linear park along the Glounamuck Stream, landscaping, and ancillary infrastructure development works in the form of wastewater infrastructure, surface water attenuation, water utility services, public lighting, surface car parking, bin stores, bicycle stores, roof mounted solar panels, plant and comms rooms, 6 no. ESB substations, and all associated site development works. Vehicular access to the development will be via 2 no. entrances off Water-rock Road (L3618) to Site B and 1 no. entrance to Site A off the Water-Rock Urban Expansion Area Service Corridor Link Road (L3822-5). The proposal includes pedestrian and cycling paths and access points, and makes provision for the delivery of part of the Carrigtwohill to Midleton Inter-Urban Cycleway to the south of Site A. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the proposed development. LRD Website: www.Water-rockLRD.ie