Cork County Council give planning permission for new dental school at UCC Farm

The UCC Sports Grounds in Curraheen better known as the 'Farm' has been used by many runners for training over the years.

Cork County Council have now granted permission for a five storey dental school on the site.

It is expected that construction will commence in the summer of 2020 with a target completion date of early 2022.

UCC announce plans for new sports park at Farm

 

It was announced some time ago that the UCC Farm in Curraheen was going to be developed into a science and technology park. Now UCC have announced that a new sports park will be integrated into it.

The plan is to have a 1,800m running track, a 1,300m inner walk, grass and synthetic playing pitches and a synthetic hockey pitch, along with 297 parking spaces.

Previous posts about the development HERE

Link...
1) Evening Echo

New development at UCC Farm to start in early 2019

It looks as if part of the UCC Farm is going to be developed in 2019 with work likely to commence early in the year.

The first two pitches on the left as you enter the UCC Farm will be developed with new buildings being constructed. This was flagged several years back but the economic climate was different back then.

Back in mid  2013, the first building was supposed to go up in late 2014 so the timeline for this project is over 4 years behind.

Many local runners use the UCC Farm for short training runs as the softer surface makes a welcome change from the pounding on the roads and footpaths. By running around the perimeter and staying off the playing pitches, there is a nice 2.25 mile loop. Obviously the new development will make those loops shorter.

Previous posts about the development HERE

The image below shows what the UCC Farm may look like eventually...
 

It's going to take some time before it's completely developed but 2019 should mark the year when it started.

Planning permission given for road near UCC Farm...

As many of you will know, the UCC sports ground at Curraheen known as the 'Farm' is a popular spot for runners. It's probably the only place in or near Cork city where you can run for a decent distance on a soft surface.

In 2011, I had a post up about the proposed development of a science and innovation park in the area where the UCC Farm is now.

In 2012, I had another post about how the park was approved by the Cork City Council.

The latest news is that planning permission has now been given for a road adjacent to the Farm. As you can see from the map below, the road runs from the roundabout by the Farm...past the greyhound track.....and over to a new junction by CIT. As a condition of the planning, An Bord Pleanála said it can’t be used as a through road for traffic but only for access to the CIT and the new science and technology park.

Running area marked in yellow

While the 2.1km road won't impact the UCC Farm initially, it does mark the start of the development of the area.

The new road will also have cycle paths and footpaths so that may offer people a few more route choices.

Beware of car clamping at the UCC Farm in Curraheen

As many of you will be aware, the UCC Farm in Curraheen is a popular spot for runners. For those of you parking outside, please avoid using the approach road to the greyhound track.

Someone sent me this info by e-mail.......Just a quick note that the blog followers might be interested in. Today (20-8-2013) at Curraheen grounds (the farm), I parked my car near the entrance and while I was changing to plod around the pitches, a fellow athlete told me that when he returned to his car (that was parked near mine) he had been clamped and had to fork out €125 to get it released.

So athletes, beware of the double yellow lines that are going ACROSS the road near the entrance of the Farm. Below the double yellow lines at the greyhound side is private property of the greyhound track which is "policed" by the clampers and you will get clamped if you park at this side of the lines.

Yellow lines start where the tarmac changes colour

UCC to develop Centre of Excellence for Sport...

First of all, a bit of background to this story. Back in August 2011, I had a story about the UCC grounds at Curraheen, otherwise known as the UCC Farm being developed into a Science and Innovation Park. The Farm is popular with a lot of runners as it is one of the few areas near Cork City that is away from traffic and the soft surface is easier to run on than the hard concrete and tarmac of the footaths and roads.

This news item was released by UCC on Monday, the 16th of January 2012...

Acquisition of lands at Curraheen
16.01.2012
University College Cork (UCC) and the Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) have jointly acquired 125 acres of land on the western outskirts of the City at Curraheen.  The site is strategically located within a short distance of the Curraheen interchange on the N25 Ballincollig by-pass with significant road frontage onto the Curraheen Road.

The 100 acre lot to the south of the by-pass will be divided between UCC and MAS with MAS also acquiring c. 25 acre lot to the North of the by-pass.  UCC has continued to increase its investment in sporting facilities to continually improve its widely renowned student experience. UCC intends to create a new Centre of Excellence for Sport to cater for the needs of the University’s 60 sports clubs. UCC intends to develop world-class grass and all-weather pitches, modern changing and indoor support facilities at the new Curraheen site.
UCC’s sports facilities at the Mardyke are undergoing significant redevelopment through a major 12m. investment programme in the Mardyke Arena and the Mardyke Pavilion which is nearing completion.
This investment will enable an important regional strategic initiative as this new development will free up the university’s existing lands at Curraheen for the widely acclaimed Cork Science & Innovation Park while providing outstanding sports facilities for the university’s student population of some 20,000 students.
MAS intend to run its successful Summer Show at the lands in June & July.  The Society also intends to develop a significant Sport and Community Facility at the site.  The strategic acquisition allows both bodies to progress key development initiatives and the bodies are committed to work together on shared facilities where possible.
President of University College Cork, Dr Michael Murphy said: “We have been looking for an opportunity like this for some time and we are delighted to have achieved this strategic acquisition for the further development of sport and physical education. It will position UCC as the country’s leading institution for university sport.”  He thanked the Higher Education Authority for its support in pursuing the opportunity.
The Chairman of the MAS, Mr Eddie Barrett said: “The MAS has for over 5 years been seeking a new site, and the acquisition of these lands, coupled with the re-establishment of its links with UCC is a very significant milestone in our 200 year history. The Society’s principles of the encouragement of Agricultural, Industrial, Educational and Scientific Pursuits are well supported by this new development.”

The Irish Examiner has a piece HERE