THE call went out this week for Limerick City and County Council to simplify procedures for owners of Georgian buildings in Limerick City to upgrade their properties without too many headaches.
Labour Party councillor Joe Leddin, wanting to see lights turned back on in Limerick’s landmark Georgian buildings, had a motion before this Monday’s meeting of the Metropolitan District calling for the establishment of a cross-department working group to assist and advise owners of Georgian buildings with redevelopment for residential use.
“Any of us that are walking around the city, certainly in the last 12 months, would see a significant transformation quietly taking place in terms of buildings – particularly in the core Georgian Quarter -being brought back to life for residential use. I think that in itself reflects the confidence that’s now in Limerick and we are seeing that with recent jobs announcements,” Cllr Leddin told council members.
Cllr Leddin said that, while walking through the city over the weekend, he saw “a significant number of buildings under upgrade and refurbishment work for residential use in the city centre”.
“But for people looking at upgrading their properties, currently they have to deal with a multitude of departments.
“You are dealing with the fire service, conservation, planning, environment, a whole range of different areas and departments across the organisation,” he claimed.
To encourage the upgrade of more Georgian building, Cllr Leddin believes an internal working group is needed “so people don’t have to go from pillar to post for information”.
This, he said, would ensure that people can seamlessly access the information and right people at City Hall.
“We are going to see the lights back on in the second, third, and fourth floors of many of these buildings and the lights are back on in some of them already. So, to encourage that level of investment and level of confidence, I think an internal working group is needed.”
In response, Director of Services Vincent Murray explained that, since the advent of the Living City Initiative tax break, the council has operated a one-stop-shop facility comprised of a core team of an executive planner, architectural conservation officer, senior fire officer, and energy officer, augmented by roads staff and architects.
“The team provides information on planning issues and exempted development facilities available under amendments to legislation and reforms of regulations, the working of the tax break, as well as the availability of grant aid under a variety of measures.”
