Planning Permission Granted for Apartments at Former Mother and Baby Home Site
Planning permission has been approved for the construction of apartments on the site of a former Irish mother and baby home.
Cork City Council has granted conditional approval to developer Estuary View Enterprises for the development of 140 apartment units at Bessborough in Ballinure, Blackrock.
Former residents and campaigners have consistently opposed previous development proposals for the site, expressing concerns that construction could disturb burial sites that have yet to be identified.
More than 900 children who resided at Bessborough died, but only 64 have known burial locations.
The Bessborough mother and baby home operated from 1922 until 1998 and was part of a network of institutions that housed single mothers and their babies during a period when women who became pregnant outside marriage faced social ostracism.
Many of these institutions experienced high infant mortality rates due to harsh living conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and inadequate infection control.
A six-year state inquiry into Irish mother and baby homes determined that a total of 923 children who spent time at Bessborough died during its operation.
However, despite
"very extensive inquiries and searches", the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation was
"able to establish the burial place of only 64 children".
Development Plans
The proposed development involves the demolition of 10 existing agricultural buildings and log cabin residential structures.
Construction will include 140 residential apartments distributed across three blocks.
Two existing farmyard buildings are planned to be redeveloped as amenities for residents, featuring a workspace, library, lounge, and function space.
The development also includes the construction of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, improvements to an existing pedestrian crossing, and the creation of outdoor amenity areas.
Conditions of Planning Permission
Cork City Council granted the planning permission subject to 70 conditions.
Prior to the commencement of development, the developer must retain a suitably qualified archaeologist to advise on the archaeological implications of the site.
The archaeologist is required to monitor all site works before development begins.
Excavations must be supervised by a qualified and experienced osteoarchaeologist or forensic anthropologist with expertise in juvenile skeletal remains.
Any items indicative of potential burials, such as coffin timber and coffin nails, must be documented and recorded in compliance with forensic archaeological standards.
If human remains are discovered during excavation, all work must cease immediately at the affected areas, and relevant authorities, including the city coroner and An Garda Síochána (Irish police), must be notified of
"the location of unidentified and previously unrecorded modern human remains".
The conditions specify that in the event of finding human remains,
"it is the responsibility of the relevant state authorities to determine the outcome for these remains and any associated evidence".
Objections to the Development
An objection to the proposed development was submitted by the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Support Group.
The objection, lodged by Carmel Cantwell on behalf of the group, emphasized that
"any proposed development must be approached with the highest level of sensitivity, transparency and compliance with planning law".
"The current proposal fails to meet these standards and should be refused,"the objection stated.
The group outlined several concerns regarding the development.
Labour Councillor Peter Horgan, representing Cork City South East, also objected to the planning application.
In his objection, Councillor Horgan noted that previous applications for substantial residential developments on the site have been refused.
He stated that
"the appropriate future for these lands should be publicly owned and dedicated to memorial and parkland use, not uncritically developed for private residential profit".
"I ask that the council follow the precedent set down by previous refusals and not deviate from the track on that."
