PLANS to construct almost 300 apartments in Limerick City have been given the green light, subject to 27 conditions.
The large-scale residential development on the site of the former Limerick Gasworks on the Dock Road was submitted by the Land Development Agency (LDA) in August.
Under the proposed development, 285 apartment units will be built, along with a public plaza, communal open spaces, and a crèche.
The apartments will comprise of 142 one-bed apartments, 22 two-beds (with three person capacity), 105 two-bed apartments (with four person capacity), and 16 three-bed apartments ranging from one to eight storeys.
256 apartments (90 per cent) will be cost rental/affordable housing with the remaining 10 percent allocated to social housing.
27 spaces have been allocated for the 285 units, along with 447 resident bike parking spaces, and 147 visitor bike parking spaces.
While the development was widely welcomed at the time of submission, a number of concerns were raised with planners regarding the number of car parking spaces.
Submissions to the proposal described the number of spaces as not being  “reasonable for 600+ residents” who may “have to pay expensive parking rates five minutes from their front door.”
Another submission dubbed the move as “absurd” maintaining that “Limerick is a small provincial city, not an urban conglomerate. Limerick has a car-based economy. Most adults own or expect to own a car.”
Works to the site under the plans will involve the demolition of the vacant former Gas Networks Ireland offices, partial removal of an existing boundary wall at Dock Road and O’Curry Street, the removal of railings from the top of the existing boundary wall at O’Curry Street, the removal of entrance gates at O’Curry Street, and the removal of entrance piers and gates at Dock Road.
Also involved in the works will be the demolition of an existing ESB Sub Station at O’Curry Street, the removal of an existing buttress section and rear elevation of flanking gable of the freestanding limestone site boundary wall at Dock Road, and the reinstatement of all associated openings and arches.
The proposed development will dismantle and relocate three existing vermiculated arches from the flanking gable wall within the subject site as part of the overall landscape design.
The submissions architectural design statement, by MOLA Architecture, states that the proposed development provides occupants and their visitors with a sense of safety and security by maximising passive surveillance of streets, open spaces, play areas, and any surface bicycle or car parking.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027.