Sod turning signals beginning of Water-Rock development
Kill, Co. Kildare, 28 September 2022 - Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins, Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Director of Infrastructure Delivery for Irish Water, Brian Sheehan have turned the sod signalling the start of the new Water-Rock development as part of the LIHAF Initiative Infrastructure Works near Midleton, Co. Cork.
Water-Rock has been identified as a Major Urban Housing Development Site as part of the County Metropolitan Planned Urban Expansion. The site, consisting of 160 hectares, has been zoned to provide a mixed use development in three phases which will eventually include 2,500 residential units, three schools, a neighbourhood centre, a railway station and parks.
The first stage of the development was the appointment of BAM Ireland with the construction of approximately 1.2 km of a single carriageway link road and approximately 300m of adjoining single carriageway roads. The roads will include a surface water drainage and attenuation system, upgrading of the existing Cork-Midleton / Midleton Northern Relief Road junction, services, public lighting, and landscaping.
Alasdair Henderson, Executive Director, BAM Ireland commented: ‘We are delighted to have been chosen to deliver this vital infrastructure project that will enable the development of essential housing and commercial premises in the Water-Rock community. BAM have committed to delivering social value by employing local people and investing in a locally based supply chain. A sustainable approach to delivery will also include focus on logistics optimisation and material re-use.’
Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey, added: ‘The Water-Rock development is a strategically important project for Midleton and the East Cork area. Cork County Council has worked proactively over an extended period with landowners, government agencies and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage using LIHAF funding to deliver this substantial infrastructure project, providing new roads and services. The continued future long-term strength of the Cork economy is dependent on projects such as this. Projects which provide certainty on the delivery of infrastructure to support the development of housing and which will contribute to the implementation of the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028, and Government Policy as regards the National Planning Framework and Housing For All.’