New rules threaten revamp of Limerick

PRE-PLANNING works on the Limerick regeneration scheme are under threat.

Private architectural firms were engaged to assist in drawing up master plans for the regeneration. But new government guidelines on the hiring of architects to undertake schemes on public housing projects may put the process at risk, a top architect has warned.

New instructions issued to local authorities last month by the Department of the Environment state county and city councils should now utilise in-house professional services to provide planning, design and management services.