Youghal gets go-ahead for houses on site of former factory
Eight Of Technical Built Site On 12 To Houses In Textiles The Plant Maisonette Seafield The Former Youghal Are Be The And
Planning permission has been granted for a 20-unit housing scheme on the site of the former Seafield Technical Textiles plant in Youghal, Co Cork
However, Cork County Council refused permission for a further 13 homes within the same application.
The council also refused permission to convert a dilapidated former gatekeeper’s cottage into a café.
Redbarn Construction Ltd’s application sought planning for 26 three-bed semi-detached and seven three-bed terraced residences, along with associated landscaping and parking, roadways, and other structural works on the 5.8 acre site.
The permission granted allows for the development of 12 houses and eight maisonette units on the eastern side only of an access road.
The council’s decision comes after submissions were made under the Part 8 process in respect of the initial application lodged in November 2022. A renewed application was lodged again last October for 33 dwellings.
The art-deco style factory was commissioned by Cork industrialist William Dwyer in 1946 and was opened by then tánaiste Seán Lemass a year later.
Under the stewardship of Dwyer’s son-in-law, Richard Lord, the plant formed part of a nationwide Industrial Yarns and Seafield Gentex conglomerate, which produced synthetic fabrics from rayon.
In its prime, the factory, which later became Seafield Technical Textiles, operated 200 looms and employed over 400 people directly and indirectly.
It closed in 2005 and the site rapidly deteriorated.
Imposing 53 conditions, the council considered that reducing the number of units would prevent housing close to the western side of the complex from being compromised by its proximity to the site and the domination of car parking, while also viewing the open space provision as “not satisfactory”.
The council also said the applicant must enter agreement with it to restrict all residential units to “first occupation by individual purchasers i.e. those not being a corporate entity, and/or by those eligible for the occupation of social and/or affordable housing, including cost rental housing”.
Car parking will be provided as 1.5 spaces per house and one space per maisonette
Comment has been sought from Redbarn Construction.