Limerick development could house up to 1,400 students

Proposed plan would see development of five accommodation blocks with amenities such as a student library, laundry rooms, and retail spaces

Plans for the development of a student residence on Limerick's Groody Road. Picture: Limerick City and County Council

Plans have been unveiled for a large-scale development near the University of Limerick that could house up to 1,400 students.

A planning application has been submitted by Groody Developments Limited to develop a student housing complex near the college.

The proposed plan would see five accommodation blocks being developed, which would be home to 196-bed clusters, housing more than 1,000 students.

As the housing crisis is still ongoing and many students have had to resort to long commutes and find alternative housing, the plans have been described as "transformative living space" by the developers.

As part of the development, amenities such as a student library, laundry rooms, and retail spaces have been proposed.

Planning permission has also been sought for the use of the accommodation, outside of the academic year, for short-term letting purposes.

A decision on the proposed plans is expected by the end of March.

Planning documents submitted to Limerick City and County Council for the proposed student residence point out “the pressing shortage of high-quality living space for third-level students”.

Designed by Fewer Harrington and Partners, the proposed plans “seek to contribute positively to the growth and vitality of the neighbourhood, transforming it into a thriving hub for learning, living and leisure”.

In October 2024, at a protest organised by UL Student Life, students chanted the slogan “Study at UL, but sleep on a couch”, calling out the ongoing accommodation issues.

Last year, plans for a new student accommodation facility near the centre of Limerick city were blocked because of its negative impact on the historical and architectural character of the area, which includes the site of a former Magdalene laundry.

An Bord Pleanála reversed a decision by Limerick City and County Council, which approved planning permission for the building to provide 122-student beds in a new development close to the Limerick School of Art & Design campus on Clare Street in Limerick.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has been continually highlighting the accommodation shortages, and called on the current Government to invest nearly €2bn to tackle the crisis.

"We’ve estimated about €1.9bn is needed to address the shortfall of student accommodation, so it’s up to them to come up with that,” USI said ahead of the last general election. 

The USI also called for legislative change to let technological universities borrow money to build and purchase student accommodation.

The lack of student accommodation has been a major issue in cities around the country. 

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The University College Cork students' union has been highlighting the lack of availability and the soaring cost of the units. 

The union said the cheapest student accommodation was €4,154 for the college year, but most units were considerably higher, with the newest developments charging up to €450 a week for a 39-week period.

UCC students hung bedsheets at locations around the city last November, ahead of the general election, to draw attention to the accommodation crisis.

The 56 sheets, containing written reminders to candidates that students would be voting for better student housing, were hung at prominent sites including the Wilton Road roundabout, St Patrick’s Bridge in the city centre, UCC properties, and beside Kent Station.