PLANS for a five-storey apartment building at Speaker’s Corner on Lower Carey’s Road moved a step closer to construction when Limerick City councillors gave their support to the scheme at last Monday’s Metropolitan District meeting.
The development of 11 one-bed and 25 two-bed apartments by the Clúid Housing development agency will also include an ESB sub-station, switch room, bin store, and landscaped communal private garden area.
Councillors gave their approval for a Part 8 planning application, which local authorities use for social housing, that was formally proposed by Fianna Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery who described the plans as fantastic news for the area.
“One and two bed apartments are very scarce. I am behind this Part 8 application one hundred per cent,” she said.
Independent councillor Frankie Daly, who represents City North, seconded plans for the proposed development.
Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely said she understood that anyone lucky enough to get one of the units would not be able to apply for a parking permit and this needed to be clarified.
“We also need clarity on the maintenance itself. Will this be taken on by Clúid or the Council?” she asked.
She was informed that Clúid would be looking after the maintenance of the development and that there would be no parking permits for tenants. The apartments will also include triple glazed windows to reduce traffic noise.
Independent councillor Fergus Kilcoyne welcomed the fact that Clúid were managing the property.
“They are very good at dealing with any problems,” he said.
Former mayor Cllr Michael Sheahan (FG) took the view that, as the project is situated in Limerick City West, it should have been proposed and seconded by councillors from that area, taking issue with the proposal coming from members from outside the district.
“If this happened in my area, I would be disappointed,” Cllr Sheahan added.
Cllr Daniel Butler (FG) said that as a councillor for City West, he was delighted to see this development going to Part 8.
