LIMERICK’S Dublin Road will see a new apartment development built following An Bord Pleanála’s decision to uphold a planning decision made by the local authority that was previously subject to an objection.
Developers Real Capital GP had plans before An Bord Pleanála following an appeal for the demolition of a disused warehouse building to be replaced with 20 apartments in a four-storey block on the St Anne’s site on the Dublin Road.
Real Capital GP had originally applied for planning permission for the disused site, which sits on the corner of the Dublin Road, Kilmurry Road, and Clare Street, back in 2022, with Limerick City and County Council planners giving the go-ahead for a 20 apartment block on the site in September of 2022.
The plans would see 10 one-bedroom apartments and 10 two-bedroom apartments built in a four-storey block, along with a new vehicular entrance to the Kilmurry Road, a pedestrian entrance to the Dublin Road, a storage shed, on-site parking, and all associated site development works.
Following the granting of permission, an appeal was lodged in October 2022 citing concerns that the development would not be in keeping with the area, that the height of the building would be “overbearing”, and that the privacy of nearby houses would be infringed upon.
The Kilmurry Road Residents Association was one of a number of objectors who raised concerns with the planning appeals board.
In a submission letter, the residents association said that if permission was granted for a four-storey block with balconies on each apartment, it would be like “living in a goldfish bowl” for those living in the area with decreased privacy for their homes and gardens.
The association also questioned the vehicular access point on the Kilmurry Road in Garryowen, and how safe the entrance would be as “it does not appear to be wide enough and the footpath areas at either side of the new junction will be hazardous and a likely cause of future traffic accidents/road traffic collisions”.
The residents association’s letter also stated that members felt that their concerns had not been listened to or taken into consideration by Limerick City and County Council.
Despite objections from local residents, more than a year on from the original planning grant, An Bord Pleanála voted to uphold the permission for the site.
The body’s ruling on the matter said that the development “would achieve an acceptable standard of urban design and would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area”, provided the developers stick to the 19 conditions imposed with the granting of planning permission.
