Limerick improvement projects

zulutango

The Brosnan report a few years ago ruled out a boundary extension for the city because it would disempower the county. The amalgamation of city and county came about for that reason. The same reasoning would apply with regard to a boundary extension into Clare. The logical step would be an amalgamation of both local authorities, with a Limerick Metropolitan Area at its centre.

Glenomra

the pieces of the jigsaw are beginning to fall into place for me now. I have been following the proposed development of the Northern Distributor Road for years. I could never understand the justification for the enormous road, when cheaper alternatives were available to alleviate the traffic congestion. Its not the Clare County Council leading the new Town Project, it is and has been UL. A number of years ago UL hosted a special meeting of the council in the White House and have the total backing of Clare councillors since then. Clare planners do very little, can't even develop the historic town of Kilrush. In this instance, Clare Council will have virtually nothing to do , only get the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) status and UL will do the rest. Clare will benefit enormously through the increased rates, millions of euro extra each year. Interestingly, what I didn't realize is that under a SDZ, the planners can do CPOs and acquire the necessary land for the development, even though the long established farming families do not want to forfeit their farms. This imo is a game changer. I expect in the new year that UL will announce the project, with possibly overseas backers, such as the Saudis in Waterford. Also, after doing a little bit of searching I have only found a few SDZs in Ireland, Dublin Docklands, cherrywood, Hansfield, Clonburris, Adamstown and Grangegorman.
Waterford, The Quays. Cork, Monard. That makes eight by my count, maybe somebody can add extra ones, so a SDZ close to Limerick City would be very significant. Unfortunately, all of the substantial rates income would go to Clare not Limerick City, of which it would be a component part.

mart 23

Does anybody know the exact location of the land to be used for this new town ?

geotrig

Glenomra wrote: »

Its not the Clare County Council leading the new Town Project, it is and has been UL. UL will do the rest.

While the above is interesting ,I'm not sure I get what Jigsaw you are seeing , "UL will do the rest ". Do what exactly ? unless its private land for them Clare co.co will be responsible especially if they build a town ,if UL build a "Town" how does that benefit them(ul) when they are right next to castletroy ,they couldnt be closer to a urban hub if you ask me ,they already have a student village on that side of the river and wont link it to the gillogue road ,I understand they've cited that they don't want it used as a shortcut or rat run,i believe from reading here they have released traffic through there as a test at some point. Is it purely a rates thing ?

Also if we only have 8 sdz its obviously not easy obtain either.

marno21

The road infrastructure around the UL North campus is totally inadequate to be used as a free for all if they opened up access. It would never have got planning permission.

If the area around UL North campus were designated an SDZ, UL would be free, in conjunction with whatever developers, to develop it into what they want within the regulations of the SDZ, with fast tracked planning.

The reason we have so few SDZ sites is for the last number of years there hasn't been much demand for them. They're also quite a new concept, the Cherrywood one in Dublin looks very positive, mainly because it's got the Luas Green Line (future Metro linked Luas) running through the heart of it. Similarly with Adamstown and Clonburris having the Kildare rail line going through them. Hansfield, Grangegoran, and Monard are also rail connected

The one exception with this SDZ is that it'll be built around the car, likely haphazardly with no overall masterplan as to the effects of this idea. A bit like how UL and Castletroy have been operating up until now.

Glenomra

mart 23 wrote: »

Does anybody know the exact location of the land to be used for this new town ?

imagine you are driving from UL's back gate towards Clare. It's the land on your left-hand side extending across the link road leading towards the small bridges.

Glenomra

marno21 wrote: »

The road infrastructure around the UL North campus is totally inadequate to be used as a free for all if they opened up access. It would never have got planning permission.

If the area around UL North campus were designated an SDZ, UL would be free, in conjunction with whatever developers, to develop it into what they want within the regulations of the SDZ, with fast tracked planning.

The reason we have so few SDZ sites is for the last number of years there hasn't been much demand for them. They're also quite a new concept, the Cherrywood one in Dublin looks very positive, mainly because it's got the Luas Green Line (future Metro linked Luas) running through the heart of it. Similarly with Adamstown and Clonburris having the Kildare rail line going through them. Hansfield, Grangegoran, and Monard are also rail connected

The one exception with this SDZ is that it'll be built around the car, likely haphazardly with no overall masterplan as to the effects of this idea. A bit like how UL and Castletroy have been operating up until now.

the big advantage for UL would be Clare Council having the legal authority to carry out compulsory purchase orders. without these they could not acquire the requisite land; much of which is currently part of some of the modern farms in the district; including a famous dairy herd.

mart 23

Glenomra wrote: »

imagine you are driving from UL's back gate towards Clare. It's the land on your left-hand side extending across the link road leading towards the small bridges


Sorry to be asking again but are these the gates at Gillogue

Glenomra

mart 23 wrote: »

Glenomra wrote: »

imagine you are driving from UL's back gate towards Clare. It's the land on your left-hand side extending across the link road leading towards the small bridges


Sorry to be asking again but are these the gates at Gillogue

Yes. actually Garraun townland. Entrance to Clare past the pavillion. When on that by-road it's the land on your right hand side, including land behind the two story house you pass on your right. The proposed site extends, parallel to the canal, across the connecting by-road . this land was rezoned as University Zone by Clare council last year and should be available somewhere on their home page. I hope that makes some sense.

Mc Love

marno21 wrote: »

The one exception with this SDZ is that it'll be built around the car, likely haphazardly with no overall masterplan as to the effects of this idea. A bit like how UL and Castletroy have been operating up until now.

Which can only mean one thing? More roads!

Poxyshamrock

Front page of today’s Leader claiming UL are developing a city centre campus for up to 2,000 students

Cookiemunster

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

Front page of today’s Leader claiming UL are developing a city centre campus for up to 2,000 students

The articles online now. The plan is 2000 students and 100 staff by 2022 somewhere in the Opera center development.

Tefral

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The articles online now. The plan is 2000 students and 100 staff by 2022 somewhere in the Opera center development.

That's been long in the idea for the Opera Centre. Limerick 2030 have been working hand in hand with UL as a stakeholder for sometime. Its definitely going ahead anyway.

There will also be some interesting developments with Pennys, Debenhams and Arthurs Quay in the not too distant future also.

The Opera Centre is planned to kick off by Q3 next year. The enabling works packages are already been looked at.

zulutango

Very hard to see An Bord Pleanala giving the green light to the 15 storey tower. What happens if they knock it back?

Cookiemunster

zulutango wrote: »

Very hard to see An Bord Pleanala giving the green light to the 15 storey tower. What happens if they knock it back?

Did you miss the government scrapping height limits and saying that they want to go up in city centers?

Cookiemunster

Tefral wrote: »

That's been long in the idea for the Opera Centre. Limerick 2030 have been working hand in hand with UL as a stakeholder for sometime. Its definitely going ahead anyway.

There will also be some interesting developments with Pennys, Debenhams and Arthurs Quay in the not too distant future also.

The Opera Centre is planned to kick off by Q3 next year. The enabling works packages are already been looked at.

Can you elaborate?

zulutango

[PHP][/PHP]

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Did you miss the government scrapping height limits and saying that they want to go up in city centers?

You must have missed this bit ..

"The measures do not mean that all high-rise proposals will be approved, as projects will have to fit in with the existing area and are subject to planning rules."

https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/death-of-the-semid-as-height-limits-scrapped-37606251.html

Comhrá

From the Limerick Leader.

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/354291/exclusive-university-of-limerick-to-open-new-campus-in-heart-of-city-with-2-000-students.html

THE University of Limerick has confirmed that it plans to open a city centre campus by 2022 – a move which will bring 2,000 students and 100 staff.

The Limerick Leader can exclusively reveal the college’s governing authority has formally sanctioned plans to develop what they describe as a “UL city campus”.

Talks have kicked off with Limerick City and County Council to establish a location, with a University of Limerick (UL) spokesperson saying its preferred site is the €180m Project Opera development at Patrick Street.

The news will come as a huge boost for businesses in the city centre, many of whom have missed out on trade which comes from UL students who at present, tend to remain largely in the Castletroy area.

The campus will house up to 2,000 students and over 100 staff in the heart of Limerick, UL has confirmed, with president Dr Des Fitzgerald saying: “It will aim to bring together law, business and entrepreneurship in technology and create a hub for developing and supporting enterprises in the city.”

He added: “It will allow for the further development of existing collaborations with the practitioner base in business, law, education, health and the growing number of technology companies.”

The move has also been warmly welcomed by David Conway, the boss of Limerick Twenty Thirty, charged with delivering the massive Project Opera scheme, which will see a mix of office, retail, and civic spaces.

“This is, in the first instance, a very positive development for Limerick and the region. A city centre with a third level student [campus] is a familiar component of a modern and successful European City”.

He said Limerick Twenty Thirty – which will also help transform a number of other city centre sites – has “ample capacity to facilitate their interest.”

“I believe the university needs the city to grow and the city would benefit from the university’s presence,” Mr Conway said.

geotrig

zulutango wrote: »

[PHP][/PHP]

You must have missed this bit ..

"The measures do not mean that all high-rise proposals will be approved, as projects will have to fit in with the existing area and are subject to planning rules."

https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/death-of-the-semid-as-height-limits-scrapped-37606251.html

For me high rise go hand in hand with a city so no problem ,also they would not fit in the surronding areas of raheen ,corbally so that may be more the point of the existing areas !.A couple of high rise spread out through the city would be nice

Cookiemunster

zulutango wrote: »

You must have missed this bit ..

"The measures do not mean that all high-rise proposals will be approved, as projects will have to fit in with the existing area and are subject to planning rules."

https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/death-of-the-semid-as-height-limits-scrapped-37606251.html

No I didn't miss anything. But in Limerick we already have Riverpoint overlooking Georgian buildings. We already have Bishops place with planning granted overlooking (and integrating into) Georgian buildings. We have the Gardens development integrated into Georgian buildings. And finally we have a 7 storey monstrosity of a tower with a setback for the rugby museum that has been given permission right smack in the middle of a Georgian terrace.

There are already plenty of buildings that are completed or have recently gotten permission from ABP overlooking Georgian architecture in Limerick, so the height is the only reason to refuse this and the governments new rules have ruled this out as a reason to refuse.

zulutango

St. Mary's Cathedral isn't Georgian.

Cookiemunster

zulutango wrote: »

St. Mary's Cathedral isn't Georgian.

The block of Georgian buildings along Rutland St that are part of the development are........... Georgian...........

Good goal post moving though.

zulutango

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The block of Georgian buildings along Rutland St that are part of the development are........... Georgian...........

Good goal post moving though.

There's no goal post moving. You can't pretend that St. Mary's Cathedral isn't in the immediate vicinity. ABP don't just make their rulings on proximity to Georgian buildings alone, in case you didn't know.

geotrig

But its a good distance away and is a relatively open space that is mostly away from any building works of note .i.e st mary cathedral and has no impact on it really , by the logic above no building should ever be built near st marys , highrise or not.

gctest50

zulutango wrote: »

There's no goal post moving. You can't pretend that St. Mary's Cathedral isn't in the immediate vicinity. ABP don't just make their rulings on proximity to Georgian buildings alone, in case you didn't know.

That sounds like david norris in heat

How much Georgian cr@p do ye need ?

Doze them and put up nice modern buildings

geotrig

I want us to keep as much Georgian crap as possible ! but we need to intergrate modern building into these areas of the city.Highrise with historical building can work.
High/mid rise doesnt matter if we get the overall design wrong .....look at our 60's buildings or that one ! if anything the openess of that area with the rive would make it work.

zulutango

Limerick 2030 have acknowledged the importance of the Georgian buildings. They are renovating all the Georgian buildings on the site.

geotrig

yes, but that doesn't mean you can't develop whats not Georgian ,If you want the city to stop its sprawl this is the only alternative for business and living.

zulutango

Of course you can develop what's not Georgian!

Putting a 15 storey tower on its own is another matter. Look how hideous the Clayton Hotel is, for example. Possibly one of Limerick's worst eyesores. Far worse than Sarsfield House.

kilburn

You lose all credibility with stuff like this possibly the best news story for the city in years and thats how you greet it.

Cant spell