A PLAN to construct 285 apartments in Limerick City has been confirmed by the Land Development Agency (LDA).
The proposed development of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments will be located at the Limerick Gasworks Site on the Dock Road, subject to planning permission.
It is also proposed that the development, across three apartment blocks, would incorporate a public plaza, crèche, play areas, green open areas, and retail units.
The homes are to be developed on land being acquired by the LDA from Gas Networks Ireland (GNI).
The proposed development will include 142 one-bed, 127 two-bed, and 16 three-bed apartments across three blocks ranging from one to eight storeys.
The move has been welcomed widely by local representatives.
The LDA said that “existing heritage artifacts, including the freestanding limestone wall which faces on to Dock Road, will be retained and incorporated into the design”.
The limestone wall is a remnant of the former Limerick Corporation gas works site.
“Subject to approval, construction could begin in 2027 and will deliver much needed cost rental and social housing in Limerick city,” the LDA stated.
The site of the proposed development is located beside the ‘Dock Clock’ at Limerick Docks and a short walk from the city centre.
The LDA said the site is “well serviced through existing bus links which connect to primary and secondary schools, University of Limerick, University Hospital Limerick, and the Crescent Shopping Centre”.
The proposal also includes a provision for bicycle spaces and car park spaces at surface level.
LDA chief executive John Coleman said the agency was “confident that this project, in a prime location near Limerick city centre, has the capacity to revitalise the area”.
Ronan Galwey, acting chief executive at GNI said it was “proud to support the LDA in addressing the critical challenge of affordable housing”.
“The Limerick site is a prime example of how state bodies can work in partnership with the LDA to unlock the potential of public land for the benefit of communities,” Galwey said.
The news received a warm welcome locally, with Mayor of Limerick John Moran saying that the “early stages of this project date back to my own time as chair of the LDA”.
“I’ve long believed in the potential of the Docklands to better serve the public good by unlocking lands for housing. It is heartening to see a project there reach a key milestone, even if there is still a way to go.”
The Mayor said that “285 potential new homes at such a strategic site would be another piece of the large jigsaw we are developing of similar projects in housing, infrastructure, and other areas all across Limerick”.
“I do not want to minimise the scale of the challenge to catch up on the build-up of deficits in housing delivery over recent years, but moving forward is critical.”
“This site, along with other lDA lands, is now monitored by the new governance arrangements we have put in place since last June to speed up delivery,” the Mayor added.
Cathaoirleach of the Council’s Metropolitan District, Cllr Daniel Butler, described the submission by the LDA for a large-scale residential development at the former Gasworks site, adjacent to the much-loved Dolan’s Warehouse, as “significant”.
“The proposed development represents a major investment in urban regeneration for Limerick City. It comprises 285 residential apartment units, along with two retail units and a purpose-built childcare facility,” Cllr Butler revealed.
This project, he believes, has the potential to be the spark that ignites the wider development of the Docklands area — a part of the city with “enormous untapped potential”.
“Unlocking this area could deliver transformative benefits for Limerick, enhancing its role as a dynamic and liveable city on the western seaboard.”
The City West representative also considers it essential that any development in this location respects and protects existing cultural assets.
“In particular, Dolans Warehouse — a venue of local affection and national acclaim — must be considered sensitively in the design and planning process. Its continued success and cultural significance should be supported and safeguarded as the area evolves.
“This development marks an important step forward in the revitalisation of a strategic urban site. I look forward to continued collaboration between the LDA, the local authority, and the wider community as this project progresses through the planning stages,” he concluded.
by David Raleigh and Alan Jacques
