A PREVIEW of Mayor John Moran’s ambitions for modular housing in Limerick is to go on show this Friday at Arthur’s Quay.
The construction of the “prototype” modular homes is currently ongoing at the public park in the heart of Limerick City.
Mayor Moran has, even before his election, promoted the idea of modular housing as a part solution to the housing issue on Shannonside – going as far as telling eager audiences at the mayoral debate in May 2024, hosted by the Limerick Post, Limerick Chamber, and TUS, that he would “solve the housing crisis” if elevated to office.
These ‘short-term modular affordable rental transition’ (SMART) modular housing units, the Mayor as said in the past, could serve as “meanwhile homes” developed rapidly in the short term while long-term homes are being built.
Mayor Moran has proposed to erect 1,000 such modular homes across Limerick in an effort to help combat the housing crisis.
A number of areas have been put forward by the first citizen as sites for modular homes to be erected, including in Caledonian Park, the former Guinness site, Boro Park in Janesboro, O’Malley Park in Southill, Clarina Park in Ballinacurra Weston, Pineview Gardens in Moyross, and in Mungret.
Some of the proposed sites have received backlash from the public, with residents of Janesboro in particular coming out strongly against the Boro Park proposal.
This week, the first preview of the Mayor’s modular ambitions will go on show in Arthur’s Quay Park, with two units currently under construction in the public park.
Images were released by Limerick City and County Council of “the interior of what both homes on display, when constructed and furnished, may look like”.
The Council said that “the prototypes, when installed, will showcase two innovative modular units for public viewing”.
“The concept is part of Limerick’s SMART Housing initiative, which is a key element of the More for Limerick mayoral programme.
“SMART is intended to accelerate the delivery of affordable, high-quality rental homes for workers and individuals who are finding difficulty accessing the private rental market.”
A Council spokesman said that the units will highlight “the potential of modern methods of construction in delivering durable, safe builds quickly”.
The units will be open to the public from Friday (September 5).
