well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?

€250m Limerick shopping centre gets the nod

http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/1108/jobs.html

November 08, 2006 16:29

Planning permission has been granted to the Opera Centre in Limerick, the construction of which its developers say will create 500 jobs.
Regeneration Developments plans to spend €250m building a 350,000 square foot retail centre in Limerick’s city centre.
Once completed the shopping centre, one of the biggest in Ireland, is expected to create 1,200 jobs.

Suneil Sharma, the chief executive of Regeneration Developments said: “It is clear to anyone who does business in Limerick that it is a place that has turned the corner. Our €250m investment demonstrates our commitment and confidence in what is becoming Ireland’s fastest growing city.”
Sharma said he is looking for a high quality anchor store for the centre and is in talks with a number of retailers.

Westpark Business Campus Shannon (First Client)

US firm to create 350 Shannon jobs

http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/1109/jobs.html

November 09, 2006 14:45

US e-commerce firm Digital River is to create 350 jobs over five years at the Shannon Free Zone. (Westpark Business Park Shannon)
The company has set up a European headquarters to support the business of its subsidiary Digital River Ireland.
The US company, which is based in Minneapolis, builds and manages online businesses for more than 40,000 software publishers, manufacturers, distributors and online retailers.
The jobs will be for computer software graduates and engineers. The Minister for Enterprise and Employment Micheál Martin made the announcement in Shannon this morning. Shannon Development is supporting the project.
The company builds and manages online business for more than 40,000 software publishers, distributors and online retailers, and recently secured the giant Microsoft company as a customer.
Minister Martin said more and more companies were choosing to locate in the regions outside Dublin, because it is easier for them to hold onto their staff.

Westpark Shannon

http://www.westparkshannon.com/index.html

The proposed design consists of 7 buildings.
Phased completion 2004 – 2008

Phase 1 Complete June 2006 1st Building
Phase 2 Commence Sept 2006 – June 2007 (3000 – 3400 Westpark Shannon) 2nd Building
Phase 3 Commence Oct 2006 – May 2007 Pavilion Restaurant
Phase 4 Commence Sept 2006 – Feb 2007 Multideck Car Park

Bamber and Reddan Architects

http://www.bamberandreddan.co.uk/

See Portfolio: Westpark Business Park

They look particularly hideous – and the prices €370000? That’s over €120,000 for each window. What a shame this got through planning – Henry St. was developing a somewhat respectable character, with a few exceptions, until now.

The Limerick Post doing what they do best!

Further delay on Opera Centre

NO start-up date has yet emerged for commencement of construction of the Opera Centre, despite the recent go-ahead from An Bord Pleanala.

The planning authority has imposed a number of conditions, mainly in relation to the preservation of a number of architectural and heritage buildings in the immediate vicinity of the eight-acre site comprising Rutland Street, Patrick Street, Ellen Street, Michael Street and part of George’s Quay.

Speaking to the Limerick Post, Suneil Sharma of the development company, Regeneration said they are currently reviewing An Bord Pleanala’s decision in detail.

“We will comment on this in a day or two,” was all he was prepared to say on Wednesday morning.

Pointing out that there are a number of legal issues to be dealt with before the developers can move forward, leading auctioneer Pat Kearney said:

“This is an ongoing daily situation. The retailers involved have an option to sell out their properties and the developer can say, we want you out by such a date but this hasn’t happened yet.”

Upbeat that the 250 milion city centre development will get underway shortly, Mayor Joe Leddin said that while the conditions attached to An Bord Pleanala’s permission will mean a reduction of retail space footage, he is confident the project will get underway shortly.

Welcoming Bord Pleanala’s ruling in favour of the Opera Centre, Cllr Pat Kennedy said it was good for the city that a number of important historical and heritage buildings will be retained and incorporated into the development.

‘Revised drawings incorporating the necessary conservation works and conservation methods will be submitted to City Council prior to commencement of the development and the conservation work will be carried out under the supervision of a conservation architect,” he said.

Also that Hartstonge Gate complex is highly disappointing, yet another apartment driven development where the choice of furniture matters more than the quality of the building itself!:rolleyes:

The health sciences building kind of looks like a waterpark to me, its been in operation for just over a year at this stage, its a fair trek from the main campus although this will improve when the pedestrian bridge opens early next year. Along with the graduate entry medical school the next major project on the new north campus will be the Irish world music village, the school will move from the basement of the concert hall to a new site across the river, this is scheduled to begin construction in 2007. Also the new Kemmy business school building is currently under construction beside the Schuman building!

Also i see the Roxboro shopping centre is set to get a (modest) makeover!

Permission to alter and extend Roxboro Shopping Centre. The proposed works comprise the demolition of 5 no. mall retail units and toilet block and replacement of the same with a building of greater height and a larger footprint containing 3 no. retail units together with a doctors surgery of 77sq.m and new customer toilets creating a total increased floor area of 243sq.m. The works also include the creation of a new 1,100sq.m. leisure zone (class of use 11d and/or 11e under the Planning and Development Act) at first floor level in the existing high bay retail unit facing Childer’s Road. The ground floor of this existing high bay retail unit will include access/egress for the first floor leisure zone of 36sq.m, internal alteration forming 4 no. smaller retail units and a 210sq.m. bookmakers unit, which is being relocated from an already approved location. The application includes for new signage and roof mounted satellite dishes for the bookmaker unit. Works on this existing high-bay unit will also include new elevation treatments and a storage extension of 77sq.m. Other works include resurfacing/leveling of malls, car parking and fire escape routes together with all the ancillary site and services works.

Roxboro Shopping Centre,
Roxborough Road/Childers Road,
Limerick.

City revamp on way

Marie Hobbins
FEARS that the pedestrianisation of Limerick city centre will cause traffic mayhem has forced City Hall into a new traffic plan.

It has now been suggested that the quaysides should also be pedestrianised which will further aggravate the city’s car parking problems. An inner city orbital route has been mooted by Arup, Consulting Engineers.

Currently between 1,200 and 1,400 vehicles travel through O’Connell Street daily and when completed, pedestrianisation is estimated to reduce that volume by 30 per cent in the city centre. To cater for the overflow to other city streets, Arup have submitted recommendations for an inner orbital route within the city to accommodate the displaced traffic.

According to the consultants, “the objective is to develop a deliverable traffic management solution which will best accommodate traffic drive in the city and simultaneously allow for a pedestrian-friendly city”.

A number of recommendations are listed in three options provided by Arup. Under one option provided, it is recommended that Henry Street, between Honan’s Quay and Shannon Street be converted from one-way northbound to two-way traffic: reversion of the direction of traffic flow on Henry Street between Lower Mallow Street and Shannon Street from one-way northbound to one-way southbound: provision of restricted turning movements at the junction of Henry Street/Lower Mallow Street and O’Connell Street/Mallow Street: conversion of O’Connell Street between Mallow Street and Cecil Street from one-way southbound to two-way traffic: construction of a new road link between Cathedral Place and Sexton Street: provision of new traffic signals at High Street/Wickham Street: conversion of Broad Street from two-way to one-way northbound.

While the recommendations have yet to be studied in detail by the councillors on the Transportation Strategic Policy Committee, and also by all of the councillors on Limerick City Council, before a period of consultation with the public is entered into, cllr Diarmuid Scully suggested that serious consideration be given to making the quays a pedestrianised area.

“I’m worried about putting thousands more cars on the quays. We’re dedicated to enhancing the riverscape with linear walks, boardwalks and further appropriate development but choking up the quays with traffic is not an attractive scenario,” he said.

Referring to the successful pedestrianisation of Birmingham city’s centre, which has been accepted as a model for other cities, the councillor said: “Birmingham, however, does not have a quayside stretch such as Limerick’s so close to its city centre streets.”

Cllr John Ryan and Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon also expressed reservations about a negative impact on the quays arising from changed traffic management.

“Pedestrianisation of the quays is worth investigating with an open mind,” said Cllr Ryan who adds: “our river is our biggest asset and we should be looking at extending areas of the quays out on to the river and imaginatively developing them,” he said.

Cllr O’Hanlon urged a rethink on the quays and the potential they present to develop the city’s riverscape into a “beautiful city landmark area.” He said it is his understanding that a new City Library to replace the existing building on Michael Street will be built on Poor Man’s Kilkee, but this could not be confirmed at time of gong to press as city librarian, Dolores Doyle, was not available for comment.

City Council’s director of services, Pat Dromey, told the councillors that the Council “will take another look at the quays” and that a full report will be provided in early spring.

The architect, Nicholas de Jong, who is overseeing the city centre renewal programme, was not available for comment

New track still hangs in the balance (Limerick Post 21.11.2006)

http://www.limerickpost.ie/dailynews.elive?id=7421&category=Daily-Tue

The fate of the new Limerick track at Coonagh is still very much in the balance according to some sources.It is believed that Bord na gCon’s Tony McKenna has been delegated to clear the way with Clare County Council planners.At the end of last month, Clare County Council requested that the site for the new track be accessed through an additional road at the Meelick Roundabout. This necessitated agreement to be reached with two adjoining landowners. It is understood that preliminary discussions have now taken place.Limerick is still being identified as Bord na gCon’s “number one priority” by officials.

Another change I would make would be changing Roxboro Avenue (Jail Boreen) to a one way system either northbound or southbound, Also John’s Pavillion and the yard futher up Mulgrave Street has a lot of land. It could be a prime site for future development if it was ever to go on the market.

Callerview properties have submitted some revised plans for their controversial retail park development at the rear of the Ashbrook estate on the Ennis Road

Modifications to the retail unit and adjoining garden centre granted under planning permission ref: 04/583 and PL30.212827, the development shall consist of (a) revisions to the external finishes on the front and side (north and north western) elevations including amendments to the entrance details, the provision of additional external glazed material finishes, modifications to the signage details. (b) revisions to the rear elevation to provide for modified access to the outdoor garden centre including new external canopy and revised rear service door accesses. (c) the provision of a graded ramp service access within the service yard area. (d) revisions to the roof treatment to provide for increased natural light and (e) modifications to the internal layout to provide for revised entrance detail and provision of new mezzanine level to provide for office space, canteen, toilets and storage area ancillary to the development.

Ennis Road, adjacent to Caherdavin Centre
Ennis Road, south east of Ivan’s Cross,
Clonmacken, Limerick

Callerview got the go-ahead from ABP earlier this year after 3 previous applications had been refused by Limerick City Council!

Original Application

The development will consist of the redevelopment of the existing site and buildings for mixed retail/commercial park and includes the construction of the following:- (1) 8 no. retail warehouse units (including 1 no. outdoor garden centre of 1,170 sq. m. totalling 12,065 sq.m. (2) A 465 sq.m. motor showroom. (3) A 447 no. space surface car park. (4) Improvements to Ennis Road to provide turning lanes to the approved link road from Ennis Road to Clonmacken Road approved under planning register reference no. 02/1215 serving the redevelopment of the Caherdavin Centre. (5) The construction of a roundabout junction on the approved link road. and all other site development works including boundary treatment, lighting and landscaping on a site measuring 4.84 ha. 4.6 ha. of the development site is located within the administrative area of Limerick City Council. The proposal ranges in height from 5.2m to 9.2m. Environmental Impact Statement and Retail Impact submitted

Ennis Road, South East of
Ivan’s Junction,
Clonmacken,

Its the pukey orange colour!.. Cant recall it ever being red, when it opened it was definately orange. It actaually gives it an even tackier look!..