€50m new town given the green light despite downturn - Independent.ie

AN IRISH council is to defy the recession and go ahead with developing a €50m new town.

Cork County Council has decided the development of the new town -- Monard -- is a long-term necessity.

Monard -- which will be located between Blackpool and Blarney -- will ultimately cost €50m, will house 12,500 people and have 5,000 new-build homes.

The scheme will also involve the new town getting its own railway station, a secondary school and four national schools and creches.

However, planning for the new town won't commence until 2015/2016 -- and council plans envisage development at Monard will not be completed until 2045.

The move came after the Government agreed in June 2010 to designate 1,000 acres at Monard to be a strategic development zone (SDZ).

Monard will be the first new town built in Cork -- and also the first SDZ outside greater Dublin.

Cork planning previously focused on developing major 'satellite' towns out of existing villages such as Douglas, Carrigaline and Ballincollig.

Cork County manager Martin Riordan said the Monard plan is part of a long-term strategic blueprint to focus population growth on areas of maximum public transport availability.

However, councillors have expressed concerns that the development will funnel vital resources from existing villages and towns.

- Ralph Riegel

via independent.ie