AN Bord Pleanála has approved a new student accommodation complex at Punches Cross that will house more than 350 students from Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick and the TUS Limerick campus.
The development is designed with sustainable transport and transport friendly initiatives including 400 bike storage stands, storage and outdoor amenity spaces for residents.
It will also deliver improved local infrastructure, such as widened footpaths, widening the Rosbrien Road to allow for an extra traffic lane; and a new centrepiece plaza at Punches Cross.
According to the developers, the accommodation will be fully supervised and managed with security and concierge services.
A spokesperson for Cloncaragh Investments said it was the second time that the plans have been approved by the planning appeals board and the development can now proceed.
“This addition to the city’s housing stock will help to ease the housing pressure in the vicinity by increasing housing supply and helping to make rents and housing more affordable.
“Mary Immaculate College is located in close proximity to the proposed development. The college is supportive of this project as it will allow for students to live close by in quality fit for purpose accommodation.
“The University of Limerick also plans to develop a campus on Sarsfield Street and this will also feed into the demand for this accommodation type. This development in time, may also assist University Hospital Limerick with their accommodation needs.
“This decision by An Bord Pleanála will see a brownfield site turned into something that contributes economic positives for Limerick City as well as meeting the rising demand for quality accommodation.
“Limerick City is currently undergoing significant regeneration and it is important that critical infrastructure such as housing keeps up with demand, so that our city can continue to flourish. It is our intention to begin construction as soon as possible and this in turn will also stimulate local employment in Limerick’s construction sector,” the spokesperson added.
