OVER 100 commercial properties have received planning permission to be changed into homes in the last five years across Limerick.
That’s according to figures released by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, and showed that 101 notifications were received by Limerick City and County Council to change vacant commercial properties into homes between 2018 and 2023.
Minister O’Brien said that turning vacant commercial properties into homes is a key pillar of the Government’s Housing for All plan, and that Limerick has the potential to create 202 new homes if all 101 properties were converted into homes.
The planning exemptions, introduced by the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2018, remove the requirement for planning permission to convert certain types of vacant commercial properties into homes until the end of 2025.
Since the exemption was extended to include pubs, Limerick City and County Council has received nine notifications to turn vacant former hostelries into homes.
The Housing Minister said that the planning exemptions are aimed at regenerating town centres as well as creating more homes.
“This is one of a suite of measures which has proved effective in encouraging potential homeowners to convert vacant commercial buildings to residential use, such as ‘above shop’ living in County Limerick, to increase housing supply and drive the regeneration of our town centres,” he said.
“Refurbishment and the return to use of such commercial properties helps to reduce pressure on existing housing stock, increase supply, and ultimately provides much needed homes for people in more vibrant communities across the country.”
