Limerick improvement projects

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637124#Comment_123637124

That student accommodation was refused.

It's government policy to reduce parking near city centres and public transport routes. This development is seen as city centre would be within walking distance of Colbert Station, so doesn't require parking according to this policy.

Vanquished

That student accommodation scheme in Pennywell was rejected by An Bórd Pleanála on height and scale grounds. Something I don't agree with at all. The facade design was a bit Soviet Union for sure but an improvement there could easily have been conditioned by the Inspector or board of ABP.

It's been national planning policy for some time now to exclude the necessity to provide car parking in city centre residential developments. It cuts down on costs as there is no requirement to construct a basement car park and it also ensures better and more efficient use of valuable urban land instead of wasteful surface parking areas.

Sites such as this, which are walking distance to city centre services, train and bus station, various bus stops etc are entirely suited to thís type of development and policy approach. Limerick city centre is never going to become a more attractive and liveable place unless it becomes a far more people and residential amenity orientated place. Instead of the ugly car-dominated space that it is currently. We can either continue to whinge about the same things and watch the city centre continue to stagnate at best or accept that major changes are required in order for it to finally have a chance of becoming a vibrant and liveable place where people will want to reside. Ultimately, a significant increase in the city centre residential population is the only way of ensuring the viability of the city centre as both a residential and commercial area into the future.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637059#Comment_123637059

How can it get worse ?

There is a certain number of on street parking and it is either full or isn't. If people are parking illegally then your issue is with enforcement not the apartments.

The city is full of houses and apartments with no parking. The vast majority of accommodation in the Georgian area has no parking.

I think there are way way more people living in the city centre with no car than the average demographic on Boards realises.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637340#Comment_123637340

I assumed they'd all be parking legally, of course I accept that's an awful assumption to make. The way it could get worse is by pushing the parking out to other city streets and clogging them up as well.

There are also many many people that live in the city and need a car and adding residential units without parking means adding more cars to the limited on-street parking

I get that it's council policy to restrict parking as much as they can but that doesn't make it a good idea

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637369#Comment_123637369

Nothing is getting "clogged". Either the spaces are being used or not being used. People will rent or buy these apartments with full knowledge they have no parking. Same goes foe anyone who relies on street parking. These spaces are no tthe entitlement of the houses the adjoin.

Glenomra

I read recently that the Barrington's hospital building is being 'scoped out' as a possible IPA centre when the new Bon Secours hospital opens and the building is vacated. Surely, this historic building, enjoying a superb location close to the river, would make an ideal pub\restaurant\hostel close to the Locke and other restaurants.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123646377#Comment_123646377

Bon Secour want €12M is it? If someone buys it for that they'll want to make some money and they'll make money quicker turning it into an IPA centre if that's true.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123646377#Comment_123646377

Read where ?

Glenomra

Developers scope out plans for new asylum-seeker accommodation hub in Limerick

Bon Secours set to move out of city centre hospital in favour of new-build this year

The landmark hospital, locally known as Barrington's is set to cease operations | PICTURE: Adrian Butler

Nick Rabbitts

30 Jun 2025

Bon Secours, which took over Barrington's Hospital for a reported €15m, has confirmed it will move out of its landmark premises at George’s Quay in favour of a new €190m hospital on the edge of the city.

The new facility at Ballysimon is expected to open later this year.

Glenomra

From Limerick Leader of the above date

Vanquished

Not sure why you didn't link to the full article which fully explains the circumstances here.

The new owners of Barrington's Hospital sought a Section 5 declaration from Limerick Council which would have permitted them to use the property as a temporary accommodation centre for International Protection candidates.

The Council refused the request. This means that if the owners want to pursue this use then they will have to apply for a 'change of use' through the standard planning process, as they did not receive a planning exemption.

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/planning/1838134/developers-scope-out-plans-for-new-asylum-seeker-accommodation-hub-in-limerick.html

dave 27

Ive never been inside the hospital but with the facade like that, it would be nice to see it turned into perhaps a hotel or student centre with accomodation given the location. Sites like this in key areas of the city need to be seen with a bit more forward planning.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123647100#Comment_123647100

Would be great if it was a hotel but people talk like the council can force some hotel group to move in. Chances are none will be bothered to take the job on.

johnnyryan89

Should be uproar if they wanted to turn that building into an IPA centre given it's location but unfortunately anything organised is going to attract the knuckle draggers who'll hijack it for their own agenda.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123647673#Comment_123647673

Given the number of rural hotels being used by IPAS one would think having a dedicated one in the City Centre and returning the hotels to the hotel sector would make sense

dunworth1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123665152#Comment_123665152

River house across the road in an IPAS centre and isnt the old

and isnt the old Salesian Primary School in fernbank one also?

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123665368#Comment_123665368

Both were floated many times as IPAS centres but I don't think either is being used yet

dunworth1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667969#Comment_123667969

River house has residents the last number of months

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668313#Comment_123668313

Happy to have been proven wrong here. Explains the 'protests' outside river house the last few months

Also happy to be proven wrong on Sallesians

phog

The Salesians has residents too but I don't know if it's an IPAS centre

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668935#Comment_123668935

I'm almost certain that there are Ukrainians in the Salesians.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668935#Comment_123668935

To be fair, Salesians and River House (and any other state owned disused buildings) are better spots for IPAS centres than hotels

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123665152#Comment_123665152

Shouldn't be wasting a building like Barringtons given it's location in the city centre on an IPAs centre, River House include.

Use buildings outside the city centre like the old road bridge building on the Ballysimmon road which is also being used to house refugees.

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123677973#Comment_123677973

Make that river front a centre of socialising, restaurants etc. wonderful river views and plenty of space for on-street catering.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123678293#Comment_123678293

The only spot for on street vendors would ne to take from the units already making the area a centre for socialising.

There isn't really much scope for anything else on that section of the Abbey except for knocking the LSAD place which would definitely be a great idea.

Louche Lad

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/planning/1858442/plans-for-massive-shake-up-of-limerick-s-milk-market-area-approved.html

From the "artist's impression" image, this looks good, especially the trees/plant beds.

breezy1985

"Overhead wires will be relocated underground in a bid to declutter the streetscape"

This is something most of us probably don't focus on when these plans come out because of so much focus being on car access but it's an absolutely huge positive improvement when it's done. You can see how important it is when you transition from new to old Catherine St.

johnnyryan89

Would it make sense to have upper Gerald Griffin St as a two way to take a lot of the traffic using Wickham St and then onto High St out of the way. Though you'd run into an issue with increased traffic coming down lower Gerald Griffin St and cutting through Sean Houston place.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680040#Comment_123680040

Looks very nice indeed. I only worry that it will be like when they changed O'Connell Street and be a building site for 7 years

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680159#Comment_123680159

That wouldn't be an auful idea. Cars going from Roches/Sexton Street to Pennywell would have a smoother run and would also help ease traffic on Wickam Street

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123680286#Comment_123680286

Oh it's an absolute guarantee it's gonna run way over time. Might as well just accept it from the start and save yourself the stress.