'Anti-social behaviour' concerns among objections to delay 122 Limerick student bedspaces

The local residents also cited the likes of 'rag weeks' as having a detrimental effect on the area

A&R Supplies was granted planning permission last month for the seven-storey apartments on New Road/Pennywell Road and Old Clare Street by Limerick City and County Council.

Plans for 122 new student bedspaces in Limerick City are on hold until next year, after local residents objected in the “strongest possible terms” to the new development.

A&R Supplies was granted planning permission last month for the seven-storey apartments on New Road/Pennywell Road and Old Clare Street by Limerick City and County Council.

Permission was first sought from the council in January of this year, but Limerick City and County Council sought further information on the proposals which were furnished in August, before approval in September. In its planning statement to support its application, it was estimated that Limerick City will face an excess demand for 2,200 student bedspaces next year.

“At the time of this report there are no significant projects of scale underway and with a limited pipeline of purpose-built student accommodation projects permitted, the short-term supply will remain acutely deficient,” it said.

“The proposed site at Pennywell, Limerick, is strategically located and ideally suited for the provision of student housing. In terms of accessibility the proposed scheme is less than five minutes walking distance from the Limerick College of Art & Design and 40-minute walking distance and 15 minutes cycle distance from the UL Plassey Campus.

“This proposal providing 122 bedspaces, although not a panacea, will go some way to alleviating this deficit in the medium term.” 

Objections

One group of local residents, however, said they were objecting to the development for a range of reasons, including its height, privacy and light, anti-social behaviour and road safety. They said the apartments would be based at an already “extremely dangerous junction”.

“The junction itself can only be described as chaotic at certain times... the proposed set down/pick up area in this development will only add to this chaos,” they said.

The residents also said that it is “historically documented” that this size and scale of student accommodation brings it with a “share of anti-social behaviour” as seen in other areas of Limerick City.

“The residents of these areas are regularly subjected to large gatherings of students in outdoor areas who are drunk and disorderly causing a nuisance and disturbance to local residents who live there.” 

They also cited the likes of “rag weeks” as having a detrimental effect on the area.

“We as residents are not opposed to progression or development but we are strongly opposed to this type of development and the lack of consideration afforded to local residents,” they concluded.

An Bord Pleanála has set a date of February 13, 2024, to issue its decision in this case.