LIMERICK City and County Council has given permission for a large-scale development on the north side of the city.
A total of 167 units will be built on the Ardhu site, where the former Limerick Ryan Hotel once stood.
As part of the plans, 167 apartments would be built across five new blocks, ranging from three-storey in height to five-storey in height.
The largest proportion will see 83 two-bedroom apartments built, with a further 82 one-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroomed units.
Among the council’s conditions for granting the development permission is that the developer pay the local authority over €1million in two separate payments for public infrastructure the development will use and as an insurance bond to ensure development is completed.
The developer is required to pay the council €324,080 for infrastructure, and €751,500 to ensure services for the development are completed. The latter the developer can claim back once work are complete.
It is understood that 17 of the planned units will transfer to Limerick City and County Council to be used as social and affordable housing at a cost of over €9million.
One-bed units would cost the council an average of €505,000 each, while a two-bed would see the council shell out over €660,000 each.
These prices “reflect the high standard of design and specification of the proposed residential units, amenities, and facilities,” the planning files state.
As well as the residential aspect of the development, a crèche will also be built on the site and an outdoor play area.
The Ardhu building will be retained and refurbished for residential amenity services, as well as the refurbishment of the former Ardhu licensed premises.
Also on the site is the former Clarion Suites Hotel, which closed in 2010.
Development of the former hotel have already begun, with tenants having moved into some of the 61 constructed apartments.
The plans were subject to a number of objections by locals, with concerns raised about privacy, traffic, car parking, and security.
