Former Munster rugby star Billy Holland in planning row over proposed family home in Cork

Former Munster rugby star, Billy Holland, has become involved in a planning row with his prospective neighbours over plans to build a new family home in a suburb of Cork City.

Appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against the decision of Cork City Council to grant planning permission to Mr Holland and his wife, Lanlih Keane, to construct a new, two-storey house at Rockcliffe Village, Blackrock Road, Cork.

They include one from the owner of nearby Rockcliffe House who is seeking to have An Bord Pleanála overturn the council’s decision.

In planning files on the case, Ruairí Walsh explained he was made aware at the time he was buying the property in 2012 that an adjacent site that was once part of Rockcliffe House, had been sold in 1997.

Mr Walsh claimed the sale of the adjacent site was subject to an agreement that a house could only ever be built in a far western corner and never in front of Rockcliffe House.

The appellant said there was also an agreement there would…