Breaking: second planning application filed for Foreston housing expansion near Blarney
A second planning submission has been lodged for what is described as the largest housing project in Blarney’s history. Clockstrike Ltd. filed the application as part of a €1.2 billion, multi‑phase expansion spanning Ringwood and Stoneview on opposite sides of the N20.
Clockstrike is linked to Cork investor Finbarr O’Leary. The new application seeks approval for 323 homes on Ringwood land, following last year’s phase 1 approval for 246 units and a 137‑place creche, also at Ringwood.
in a joint venture, Cairn Homes plc has joined forces wiht local landowners the Forrest family and Mr O’Leary’s Rockfleet Joint Ventures Ltd to deliver the overall project. The consortium aims to deliver up to 3,000 units across Ringwood and Stoneview over the coming decade or so.
Phase 1 work is expected to commence early next year, with prospective buyers invited to tour a “showcourt” featuring a mix of house types by autumn.preparatory work is already underway at Ringwood, on land historically farmed by the Forrest family for five generations.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner,Gerard Forrest said the plans began taking shape after the family’s Castleview farm was bisected by the Mallow Road (N20) in the late 1980s,a progress that changed farming prospects for the property.
“When development first came to our property, the farm was cut in two by the Mallow Road,” Forrest recalled. “That dilution made it harder to guarantee farming would remain in our future.”
Decades later, the Forrest family sold off Stoneview land, where Blarney Business Park now sits. In 2006, developers assembled a large landbank at Stoneview and drew up a master plan, but the project stalled during the economic crash.
As then, the Forrest family has worked with Mr O’Leary to assemble a 250‑acre land bank, including 105 acres at Stoneview. O’Leary acquired the Stoneview parcel from Nama in 2020, with backing from Elkstone Capital. Cairn Homes’ involvement signals Elkstone’s departure from active involvement.
Mr O’Leary said Cairn Homes is due on site in January, and that the joint venture intends to move forward with the development.
Phase 2 planning introduces a new access road to the site, forming the first phase of the Stoneview access link road, or New Station Road. The route will improve long‑term access into the Stoneview area, north of the N20 and the Cork‑Dublin rail line, and will provide access to the planned Blarney Railway Station.
The main road works will include a new access junction onto the R617, with the final section-spanning north over the N20 and the rail line-delivered in tandem with Stoneview’s development.
Officials say the new station is slated for 2028, with two bridges over the N20 required to complete the link. Phase 2 also covers a 1,724 square meter primary care center, a pharmacy and a cafe/restaurant as part of the district’s amenities.
Phase 2 housing mix and timeline
The phase 2 housing scheme comprises 52 duplexes in five three‑storey buildings, 114 apartments in two five‑storey blocks, and 157 terraced, end‑of‑terrace and detached homes. A decision on phase 2 is due in March.
At a glance: Forreston project essentials
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Locations | Ringwood and Stoneview,Blarney area,north‑east of the village |
| Project name | Forreston (unrelated to the Forrest family name) |
| Phase 1 | Approved for 246 homes + 137‑place creche at ringwood |
| Phase 2 request | Approval for 323 homes at Ringwood; includes a road and transport works |
| Total planned units | Up to 3,000 over roughly 10-12 years |
| Key developers | Clockstrike Ltd; Cairn Homes plc; Forrest family; Rockfleet Joint Ventures Ltd; Elkstone Capital |
| Transport links | New Station Road; blarney Railway Station planned for 2028; two bridges over the N20 |
| Amenities | 1,724 sq m primary care centre; pharmacy; cafe/restaurant |
| Landbank area | Approx. 250 acres total (Stoneview site 105 acres) |
| decision timeline | Phase 2 decision due in March; phase 1 underway with autumn showcourt |
evergreen context: what this could mean beyond the moment
BIG‑scale housing corridors near rail links are increasingly seen as engines of growth in regional Ireland. If approved, Forreston could reshape commuting patterns, spur investment in local services, and set a precedent for transport‑led development in semi‑rural settings. Housing supply, school capacity, healthcare access, and road safety will be key variables for the surrounding communities and planners over the next decade.
As with any major project of this scale, the balance between growth and local capacity will influence outcomes for residents. Infrastructure, affordable housing provisions, and ongoing community engagement will play pivotal roles as plans advance toward final approvals.
What happens next?
The phase 2 decision is scheduled for March, with initial site works anticipated early next year. A long‑term rail connection and integrated road network remain central to the plan, underscoring a broader push toward mobility‑friendly development in the region.
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