Re: Re: well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?

Limerick Post

Five-storey strand development shock by Marie Hobbins (Clancy Strand)

PIVOTAL to the development of a 49 apartment complex on Clancy Strand is the demolition of a landmark house that dates back to the early 1800s.

The distinctive white painted, turreted house that is just visible behind the curve of a stone wall on Clancy Strand denotes an era of yesteryear and reputedly belonged to the builder of the quay walls on the Strand.

Although the house is privately owned and occupied, it will, according to details of a planning application just submitted to Limerick City Council, be demolished to provide additional space to an area that stretches from Jackson’s Turret to the corner of Priory Park and which incorporates a land allotment to the rear.

The distinctive house is not a listed building.

Residents of Priory Park, which was built in 1954, are outraged and haver rushed to councillors regarding the impact the proposed 49-apartment, five story development, with underground parking, would have on their bungalowed cul de sac.

Also angering them is the provision in the application for four two-storey buildings with two apartments on each floor that will front on to Priory Park :confused:

After examining the plans, Cllr Michael Hourigan told the Limerick Post that in his opinion the height and density of the buildings are totally inappropriate and out of character with the riverscape of Clancy Strand and would negatively intrude on the area, including Priory Park, not to mention the proposal to knock Jackson’s Turret.

He also questioned the impact of an additional 49 apartments on an already densely trafficked area as well as additional pressure on the water supply.

Cllr Hourigan said that once the planning application has been validated within a short period of time, he and other councillors for the Ward will arrange a meeting between any residents of Clancy Strand and Priory Park who object to the development as outlined and officials in the planning department in City Hall.

One resident speaking to the Limerick Post said that since two large residences on the section of Clancy Strand immediately to the left of Priory Park fell vacant they knew that there was every likelihood of a new development.

“We knew that on such a lovely river-side location there would eventually be a new development and we accepted that but certainly we were not prepared for a five-storey, 49 apartment block that will also impinge onto our park.”

The resident, who does not want to be named, referred to the nearby Castle Court complex of two-storey houses and apartments that have retained the facade of the former Strand Barracks.

“That development fits in beautifully with the Strand and is of appropriate size and while some of its wall backs up to one section of Priory Park, there are no windows on that wall and people’s privacy is not being invaded or their light darkened,”she said.

While it was generally assumed that Jackson’s Turret was a listed building, this is not so, according to senior planner, Dick Tobin.

When asked what is the criterion required to grant protected status on a building, Mr Tobin explained that this is secured if a building is included in the city’s development plan or alternatively if it is carried forward from a previous development plan.

“If a building is recommended for protection by a member of the public we would engage an historian to examine whether the building merited such status and then it would be up to the City Council to agree it,”he said.

“Legislation to protect buildings only came in 2000 when 300 buildings in Limerick were made protected.The legislation enables the Heritage Council to survey cities and bring forward proposals for protected structures. Last year a survey was carried out in Limerick by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage but the report has not yet been published. In this survey they graded all 20,000 buildings within the Limerick city boundary.|”

Mr Tobin said it would be interesting to learn what grading and or recommendation the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage had produced for Jackson’s Turret.

When contacted a spokesperson for the heritage body said that they cannot comment on what if any recommendation is made regarding Jackson’s Turret until the survey is edited and published, which is expected shortly.

“However, the City Council can ignore our recommendation and the decision to make a building protected lies with the Council,”he said.

Ian Lumley of An Taisce said it is a foregone conclusion that should planning permission be granted it will be appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

Link: http://www2.limerickpost.ie/fullnews.elive?id=64&category=news