Waterfall Heights
Approved in 2021 by An Bord Pleanála, this Strategic Housing Development is located in Bishopstown, a western suburb of Cork City. Waterfall Heights will provide 276 homes, as well as a childcare facility and a café unit.
We were first appointed to the project in 2020 to deliver a full suite of 3D planning and marketing solutions, alongside a detailed daylight and sunlight assessment. Working from the provided site models, our team optimised them to achieve the highest level of accuracy for both the visuals and the assessment.
One of the first steps in this project was drone photography. Our drone pilot and photographer captured images from carefully selected viewpoints. Once the drone shots were taken, our team optimised the scheme’s 3D models, enabling the visualisation and post-production teams to produce high-quality aerial photomontages. These provided a clear and realistic representation of how the development would look within its actual site context.
To complement the planning application, we also created a set of verified view montages as part of the visual impact assessment. These accurately illustrated the potential impact of the proposed scheme on the surrounding environment, providing the local authority with clear and reliable information to support their decision-making process.
Combined, these solutions played an important role in assisting An Coimisiún Pleanála (then An Bord Pleanála) in granting permission for the scheme. The inspector’s report concluded that the development “would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area,” was “acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum,” and “would be acceptable in terms of traffic and pedestrian safety and convenience,” deeming it in line with proper planning and sustainable development.
In 2023, we returned to the project to update the aerial photomontages and eye-level CGIs to reflect design changes to several house types. Additionally, our client commissioned us to produce an architectural animation to make it more competitive in the property market.
Once the analytical 3D model was updated, our team created a high-quality animation designed to provide potential buyers with a clear understanding of the development and its surrounding context. A highlight of this project was the incorporation of drone footage, used to emphasise the scheme’s proximity to key points of interest. The animation also walks viewers through the various house types and open-space amenities available within the development.
