THE decision of An Bord Pleanála to overturn a student accommodation complex touted for Limerick is “disappointing”, according to the president of Mary Immaculate College’s Students Union.
Planning permission for the proposed 22-bedspace student accommodation at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) was granted by Limerick City and County Council last year, but was appealed to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) by MIC itself, who operates the Courtbrack Student Accommodation complex adjacent to the site.
Now, the planning appeals body has overturned the previous planning grant, meaning the development will not go ahead.
The developer, Westbourne Student Limited, sought to create the 22-bedspace student accommodation on Courtbrack Avenue, which would have seen six ensuite bedrooms built on the ground floor, with two student amenity spaces, including kitchens and living areas.
The first floor would have seen eight en-suite bedrooms constructed, as well as a further two student amenity spaces.
The grant of permission was appealed to ABP by MIC itself on the grounds that the development would result in excessive density on the site, that there would be no recreation space provided for residents, that there is allegedly too much overlooking between the proposed block and the existing MIC-owned Courtbrack Student Accommodation, and that the development showed an alleged disregard for the character of the area.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, MIC Student Union (MISU) President Aisling Knox expressed her disappointment in the planning decision, hitting out that there is a great need for more student accommodation to serve the institution.
“The lack of accommodation available to MIC students is a critical issue affecting our student body. In recent years, we have witnessed a substantial increase in students commuting to our campuses,” Ms Knox said.
“This trend not only imposes significant financial burdens on students, but also negatively impacts their academic performance and social engagement. Mary I Students’ Union remains committed to advocating for more affordable and suitable student accommodation.”
According to the ABP planning inspector, the proposed student development “would adversely impact on the residential amenities” of the current student block “due to serious overshadowing and visual overbearance”, and would “be prejudicial to the development potential of the adjoining site to the west”.
The inspector also noted “the proposed development would not be in compliance with existing residential land use zoning objective of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028”.
The MICSU President said that while the student representative body is mindful of the importance of the Limerick Development Plan, it is “disappointing that this opportunity to support (students) in addressing the lack of student accommodation will not go ahead and we hope that alternative plans can be identified”.
‘Well-planned student accommodation’
In response, a representative from MIC said that the college is also “aware of the acute need for student accommodation (both locally and nationally) and endeavours to seek opportunities to provide additional and appropriate accommodation for MIC’s student population”.
The college said that the decision to refuse the planning, which came following its own objection, “was based on the fact that ABP were not satisfied the proposed development would comply with ‘Objective HO O8 Student Accommodation’ of the Limerick Development Plan 2022 -2028, which states that all forms of student accommodation shall respect and protect the existing residential amenities of the area, nor with Section 11.4.4.7 Student Accommodation of that plan, where student accommodation will not be permitted where it would have a detrimental effect on established residential amenities.”
The MIC spokesperson said that the college “remains cognisant of and alert to the needs of students and of our local communities and welcomes additional, well-planned student accommodation in Limerick that is appropriate to the local areas and the services they will integrate with”.
