A CALL has gone out from within Limerick City and County Council for its mixed tenure policy to be implemented more authoritatively within the city centre.
Independent councillor Maria Donoghue, a former head of Design and Delivery at the local authority, wants to see this done through the use of planning conditions in accordance with the local authority’s own development plan and in accordance with national guidance to repair and create sustainable communities by integrating different types of housing — social, affordable, and private.
By doing this, Cllr Donoghue suggests that the Council will avoid concentrated areas of social housing and promote social inclusion.
The City West representative was told by the local authority that it appraises residential schemes in accordance with the policy provisions of the Limerick Development Plan and Housing Strategy.
In accordance with these objectives, the Council explained that it seeks to support a range of housing options in residential schemes across the city.
Cllr Donoghue was also informed that at an early stage and part of pre-planning consultation, applicants are encouraged to incorporate a mix of tenure in residential developments and to bring forward schemes of a high quality that will both attract and offer choice to new residents to the city centre.
Councillors also learned how the Council, through its Housing Section and in implementing Housing For All, administers a range of government supported schemes to promote a mix tenure approach.
In applying a structure approach for large scale housing developments over 40 units proposed to the Council seeking State subvention to deliver social and/or affordable housing, an approach has been agreed with the elected members of the local authority.
This incorporates a minimum of 20 per cent private tenure, a minimum of 50 per cent private affordable tenure, and a maximum of 30 per cent social rental tenure including rightsizing and Part V properties.
The Council went on to tell Cllr Donoghue that its implementation of mixed tenure policy has been successful in fostering balanced and integrated communities.
