Work on regeneration begins after 5-year delay

Five years after its launch, the troubled Limerick regeneration project has commenced building its first housing units in Southill.

A development on the northside is nearing completion in Moyross.

With over €100m spent, the Irish Examiner had earlier this year revealed not a single house had been built in the four estates designated by the Government for regeneration.

More than 900 houses were demolished and over 1,000 people relocated to other parts of the city.

The new Limerick Local Authority (combined county and city councils) has now signed contracts for a €5.6m 35-unit retirement complex at Carew Park, Southill.

Building workers yesterday moved on site.

The 35-unit ‘Southill Older Persons’ Accommodation’ complex will comprise 22 two-bedroom and 13 one-bedroom apartments, a guest unit for people travelling distances to stay overnight with one of the occupants, and a community room for social activities. The homes are scheduled for completion in late autumn of next year.

Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan said: “So far, since the establishment of the Limerick regeneration project in 2007, work has mostly been in the demolition and planning stage in terms of housing, as well as in the social regeneration space with very significant investment in community centres, creches, sporting facilities and a wide range of community projects.

“Clearly, however, there was not the level of progress expected and hoped for in terms of building new homes but that is changing very quickly.

“Under the new Limerick Local Authority, which took over responsibility for regeneration in June, the focus has very much moved to the build element of the programme and the planned Southill project is an excellent early example of this,” the Limerick-based minister said

Oliver O’Loughlin, who oversees the regeneration programme, said the build phase has now accelerated.

“The commencement of this development is a significant moment for the regeneration project. Not alone is it the first housing project to get under way in the Southill area but it shows we are already advancing at pace on the build element of the programme less than five months after taking over responsibility for the overall regeneration project.”

Southill parish priest Fr Pat Hogan said the development will bring a new lease of life to many elderly people in the community. “We look forward to its opening,” he said.