An Bord Pleanála has begun a hearing into controversial plans to build a co-location hospital on the grounds of Cork University Hospital.
The Beacon Medical Group was granted planning permission to build a €250m hospital by Cork City Council last March.
An Bord Pleanála received objections from five parties including two local residents' groups, Senator Dan Boyle and Cllr Chris O'Leary of the Green Party and Cllr Mick Barry of the Socialist Party.
Speaking before the hearing, Beacon Medical Group CEO Michael Cullen described the project as valid, sustanable, worthwhile, desireable and a completely necessary development for the region, the city and the country as a whole.
The group was given the tender to build three of the six state planned co-location hospitals.
Construction on the Limerick hospital is due to begin early next year. A decision on the hospital at Beaumont is awaited from the Bord.
Michael Cullen said under government legislation the only possible location is in the grounds of Cork Univeristy Hospital. 'It is here or not at all', he said.
But objectors, including local residents say the campus is already over-developed.
Eamonn Cashell of the Laburnum/Wilton Residents Association said they are not concerned with the issue of co-location, their issue is one of location.
Describing the Wilton campus as an overstretched facility, Cork City Councillor Chris O'Leary said if the development went ahead it would cause major traffic chaos.
The HSE and CUH were both invited to attend the hearing by the inspector Oznur Yucel-Finn.
The hearing is expected to last four days with a decision due by 25 November.
