Cairn Homes is set to break ground in Blarney this January, kicking off an ambitious €1.2 billion housing initiative that marks the largest residential project in the village's history.
Clockstrike Ltd has submitted a second planning application, which is crucial to this expansive multi-phase development aimed at transforming the historic Cork village. This company, associated with Cork venture capitalist Finbarr O’Leary, is seeking approval for the construction of 323 new homes on land located at Ringwood, situated to the north-east of the village. This comes after they received permission last June for the first phase of the project, which will see the completion of 246 housing units along with a creche accommodating 137 children, also at Ringwood.
As Ireland's most significant housebuilder, Cairn Homes plc is partnering with local landowners, the Forrest family, and Mr. O’Leary’s Rockfleet Joint Ventures Ltd. Together, they plan to develop up to 3,000 housing units across lands at both Ringwood and Stoneview, which lie on opposite sides of the N20, over the next decade or so.
Construction for phase one is anticipated to commence early next year, with potential homebuyers expected to have access to a "showcourt"—a showcase featuring a variety of house designs—by autumn. Preparatory work is already in progress at Ringwood, an area that has been farmed by the Forrest family for five generations.
Ger Forrest shared with the Irish Examiner that the vision for this development began when the family farm, Castleview, was effectively split in two by the new Mallow Road (N20) during the late 1980s. He noted, "The first time development came to our property was when the farm was cut in two by the Mallow Rd. That diluted the ability to guarantee that farming would remain in our future."
Years later, his late father, Robert Forrest, made the decision to sell off some farmland at Stoneview, where the Blarney Business Park now stands. In 2006, developers John Bowen, John Fleming, and Coleman Bros acquired a substantial land bank at Stoneview and outlined a master plan for its development, but this initiative was unfortunately thwarted by the economic downturn.
Since then, the Forrest family collaborated with Mr. O’Leary to assemble a land bank totaling 250 acres, including 105 acres at Stoneview, which Mr. O’Leary purchased from Nama for €7 million in 2020, with support from Elkstone Capital.
With Cairn Homes now involved, Elkstone is poised to exit the project. Mr. O’Leary informed the Irish Examiner that Cairn is scheduled to commence work on-site in January, expressing enthusiasm about this collaboration: "We are looking forward to working with them in this joint venture."
Ger Forrest characterized the ambitious housing development as "exciting," acknowledging the significant change it represents for the family. He stated, "It’s definitely a big departure for us. All of us—my mother and three brothers—take great pride in our home. When I was a child, our farm stretched across 270-280 acres, and we will literally not have any farmland left, so yes, it’s a big departure for us."
The Forrest family owns land at both Ringwood and Stoneview, with the initial focus on developing the Ringwood site due to its proximity to Blarney village, before gradually extending development to Stoneview.
This ambitious multi-phase undertaking, to be named Forreston (not directly associated with the Forrest family name), is projected to unfold over 10 to 12 years. Its success is closely tied to the planned construction of a new railway station in Stoneview, which is considered vital for this transport-oriented development.
Both sites flank the N20 and encircle areas designated for the long-awaited Blarney railway station, alongside a proposed park and ride facility. The establishment of this railway station is crucial, with plans to submit a railway order soon, targeting a completion date of 2028. Two bridges over the N20 will be necessary as part of this infrastructure upgrade.
A significant aspect of the recent phase two planning application pertains to a new access road leading into the site, designed to serve as the first segment of the proposed Stoneview access link road, known as New Station Rd. This roadway will facilitate long-term access to the Stoneview development area situated to the north of the N20 and the Cork-Dublin Rail line, ultimately providing a route to the proposed Blarney Railway Station.
The main portion of the road, which includes a new access junction onto the R617, will be constructed as part of the second phase of the project currently under consideration. The final segment of the road, crossing north over the N20 and the rail line, will be developed concurrently with the progression of the Stoneview lands, which are nearing completion.
A decision regarding the phase two planning application—which also encompasses a 1,724 square meter primary care center, a pharmacy, and a cafe/restaurant—is expected in March. The housing units included in this application comprise 52 duplexes housed within five three-story buildings; 114 apartments distributed across two five-story structures; and 157 terraced, end-of-terrace, and detached homes.
