Planning approved for 285 homes at The Gasworks in Limerick

An artist's CGI of how the Gasworks development in Limerick will look.

Planning permission has been approved to build 285 cost rental and social homes at The Gasworks site on Limerick's Dock Road.

The Land Development Agency (LDA) application has been approved by Limerick City and County Council, and the LDA will now proceed with plans to commence construction on the site in early 2027.

The development is to be built on land acquired by the LDA from Gas Networks Ireland and will include 142 one-bed, 127 two-bed and 16 three-bed apartments across three blocks ranging from five to eight storeys.

Plans for a new public plaza, landscaping, play areas, retail units, and a childcare facility have also been approved while existing heritage artifacts, including the freestanding limestone wall which faces on to Dock Road, will beincorporated into the design.

“This is great news for the LDA and for Limerick," said LDA chief executive John Coleman. "We worked carefully on the design process for this site before putting forward a strong set of plans for a high-quality development. We are pleased to have now secured planning approval, and we are looking forward to getting construction underway.

"This much needed cost rental and social housing will be developed on an excellently located site and has the potential to revitalise the area. I would like to again thank Gas Networks Ireland for working with us on the transfer of this site and assisting us in accelerating new housing delivery."

The Gasworks site was previously identified as suitable for affordable housing in the Government’s Housing for All report. It was also included in the LDA’s Report on Relevant Public Land, which identified 102 State-owned sites with the development potential for up to 70,000 affordable homes.

The site is located beside the Dock Clock and is less than a 15-minute walk from Limerick's city centre. The approved plan also includes a provision for bicycle spaces and car park spaces at surface level.

Gas Networks Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency both supervised remediation and environmental monitoring of the site over almost 10 years to make it safe for redevelopment.

The successful planning application follows on from the launch of cost rental homes in Limerick at The Mills in Castletroy  earlier this year.