Hundreds of new homes approved for Cork and Limerick

However, plans for 122 new student bed spaces in Limerick have been turned down by An Bord Pleanála

The offices of An Bord Pleanala has turned down plans for 122 new student bed spaces in Limerick.

Hundreds of new homes have been given the green light for Cork and Limerick, but plans to build over 100 new student bed spaces in the Treaty City have been turned down by An Bord Pleanála.

In a series of decisions, the planning body has given permission for 268 homes in Midleton in Cork and a further 167 apartments in Limerick city.

Castle Rock Homes had originally applied for planning permission for 272 units at the Midleton site at Broomfield West, a mix of one-bed, two-bed, three-bed and four-bed homes with over three-quarters of them set to be houses.

Cork County Council originally approved the application, but ordered Castle Rock Homes to omit 22 of the houses from the development. This resulted in the developer appealing its case to An Bord Pleanála, along with appeals lodged by some local residents. 

Their concerns centred on a few issues, such as the new development overlooking their properties, including on living and bedroom areas. Concerns were also raised around the increased traffic congestion from so much additional housing in the area.

In an assessment, an An Bord Pleanála inspector recommended approving this development as it would make efficient use of the greenfield site on the urban edge of Midleton, would “positively contribute to an increase in housing stock” and “would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area”.

This was eventually signed off by the board, on a vote of 2-1.

Limerick

Separately, the green light has also been given to a new apartment development at Ardhu House to the west of Limerick city centre, along with a creche facility.

The plans from developer Tribeca Asset Management Ltd will see 167 new homes built in blocks of up to five-storeys on the site, which an An Bord Pleanala inspector said is currently “dominated with surface car parking”.

While Limerick City and County Council approved the initial planning bid, further concerns were raised in an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Local residents said the Limerick Development Plan estimates that the site can only provide for 91 units, and they had concerns about the scale and height of the development. Concerns were also raised around capacity issues with drainage, water supply, schools, parking and parks in the area.

However, observations were also made by groups such as Limerick Chamber supporting the development, given the demand for housing in the area.

Student accommodation

Furthermore, plans for 122 new student bed spaces in Limerick have been separately turned down by the planning board. The proposed facility near the Limerick School of Art and Design Campus on Clare Street had originally been granted permission by the local council.

But the appeal from local residents, who had expressed concerns about the impact of the heritage and historical features of the area as well as the development’s height, has been upheld by An Bord Pleanála.

An inspector said the structures on Clare Street were considered to have “special social and historical significance” as the former Convent of the Good Shepherd Complex Magdalene Laundry.

The inspector also said that the applicants hadn’t demonstrated that there would not be an “overconcentration” of student housing should the development proceed.