Tuborg
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The following article pretty much sums up the shambolic nature of local government in Limerick, what a bunch of clowns!
Border conflict
A WAR of words has erupted over Limerick City Council’s plan to scupper the expansion of the Crescent Shopping Centre, and with it Limerick’s first ever Marks & Spencer outlet.
City and county councillors have traded barbs over the move, creating a new battleground in the ongoing dispute over the extension of the city boundary.Last week city councillors agreed to lodge an objection to the multi-million euro development, fearing it would damage their attempts to bring retail investment into the city centre. However, the decision has been heavily criticised as “nonsense” by some of their county counterparts.
Cllr Richard Butler of Limerick County Council did not mince his words: “Would they be objecting to the development if Dooradoyle was in the city? Saying that they are trying to get people back into the city centre is nonsense – it’s harder than ever to get in there with traffic and parking.
“The corporation are caught between a rock and a hard place and it’s no harm to put them there.”
The decision to try to block the project was prompted by Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon at a meeting of Limerick City Council last Thursday. He accused the County Council of exploiting the city suburbs for development levies and commercial rates. “County councillors have no commitment to the city,” he said. “They all have their snouts in the trough taking what they can in rates. It’s time we stood up and were counted.”
Cllr O’Hanlon also suggested that the county council had failed to properly develop those parts of the urban area under their control.
“They haven’t built one social house in the city suburbs; they have no regard for the betterment of the capital of the Mid-West. We need massive regeneration projects in the city now to tackle problems that they had a hand in creating.”
However, Cllr Eddie Wade hit back, attacking the City Council’s behaviour over the issue.
“I’m totally opposed to the way they do their business,” he said. “You can expect them to carry on like this, talking through the media, right up until the local elections next year. What these people should do is sit down with us face to face. And they can bring Ed Walsh with them too.”
The proposed development at the Crescent includes plans for a 110,000 square foot Marks & Spencer store, which would create 400 new jobs. However residents groups in Dooradoyle have voiced concerns about the project, claiming that transport and community infrastructure in the area is already at breaking point.
“Residents have serious problems with this development and I think that Limerick City Council should support them by officially objecting,” Cllr O’Hanlon said.
The City Council recently launched a draft strategy for the renewal of the city centre, which aims to create 19,000 new jobs and attract 45,000 more residents to the city by 2021.
@billy the squid wrote:
He also put up pictures of the new pery gate this morning if you are interested.
My own camera got the lens damaged and has gone off to be repaired this two weeks, i feel kinda naked without it :(.
Anyways, I am looking for a decent sized version of the redeveloped colbert bus station CGI render, does anyone know where it can be found?
Cheers Billy, I havent gotten around to seeing it myself yet, I must say it looks like a job very well done, where would we be without the Limerick Civic Trust?
As for the Colbert station query, the only image I’ve seen has been in the window of the Bus Eireann ticket office on Thomas Street, not sure if its still there though, there dosent appear to be anything on the web!
@justnotbothered wrote:
Nope, pretty sure there was a spate of fires in that area in the late 1950’s, the Roches building was one that burnt down, was rebuilt in the 1960’s. I don’t think it’s worth keeping either way, it’s an alright building but the area could be improved by a better one.
From what I could gather, Roches Stores purchased the building previously owned by McBirneys in the early 1940s. This building was gutted by a fire in 1948 and it along with the adjacent building on Sarsfield were demolished. The current building was opened in 1951. Its considered a good example of an art deco style department store but is not a listed building.
Attached is a photo of the old Roches Stores building(McBirneys) and Cannocks from the early 1900s.
Pery Square/Barrington Street
Tippryan over at the Limerick Blogger has taken the following photos of the hotel development at 1 Pery Square. The existing georgian house and mews buildings are currently being restored, a new 5 storey structure (which will house the hotel bedrooms) is also underway to the rear. This is a really beautiful part of Limerick but is sadly overlooked by the majority of people, the City Council have plans for major public realm works from Baker Place down to Pery Square itself, however I couldnt find any info on when these works are likely to begin.
@CologneMike wrote:
Looks like the owner had never serious intentions of re-developing the pub himself and just went through the motions of the planning process to get the maximum price for his property. The whole row of houses, with their ‘arses’ to the river are quite a sight!:eek: Maybe the Limerick City Council should acquire the whole row, demolish them and extend the river promenade over them? Pity that they blew € 83 million on a € 10 million sewerage pipe, can’t be too much left in the kitty.
Any ideas yourself?
Fair enough, the houses backing onto the river do look a bit haphazard, I see one resident has his/her clothes hung out to dry aswell! Not a bad place to live though in fairness, the views of the castle must be nice! The thing is though, given a choice between maintaining the status quo or letting that hideous apartment block destroy the area, I think I could live with the houses, arses and all!
Your suggestion of a riverside promenade would be a much better option but sadly I think the quayside from Thomond bridge to Shannon bridge marks the limit of Limerick City Councils ambition, at least for now !
Heres another perspective on the treaty bar development, I must say it looks even better in colour! Curiously there are very few renders floating around, hmmmm I wonder why!:rolleyes:
@CologneMike wrote:
King’s Island / Thomondgate
Amazing that this site above is now nearly two years in limbo.
Another one that slipped through the net! This is the site of what is currently the treaty bar, the plan is to replace it with apartments and ground floor commercial, the two adjacent houses are also to be demolished. I really dont see the logic behind this planning decision, that building is poorly designed and totally out of character with the area, personally I think it has the potential to do more damage than the nearby Jacksons turret proposal. This is a very sensitive location on Thomond bridge and opposite the treaty stone and Saint Munchins church and its going to be severely compromised just so some developer can line his pockets, what a load of rubbish!:mad:
Belew is the current state of play, photo from irishlaporte
Essentially a high quality dual carriageway is a motorway in all but name, ie. its built to motorway standards! The major reason why so many roads were initially planned or opened as HQDC’s was to appease local interests who might have been fearful of the dreaded M word. Now that the dust has settled a bit on the roads programme, the Dept of Transport are belatedly proposing a re-classification of a number of road schemes from HQDC to Motorway!:)
This means that the Limerick to Nenagh road currently under construction should now open as a motorway, along with the Catletown to Nenagh Project, guaranteeing motorway standard road from Limerick to Naas (with HQDC from Naas to the M50) I have no doubt that when completed the Limerick Southern Ring will also be re-classified as a motorway!
No surprises here!
Case Number 227368: Clancy Strand, Limerick
Twenty-three appeals on Clancy Strand plan
By ANNE SHERIDAN
THE controversial proposal to build 41 apartments on Clancy Strand has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Thomond Archaeological and Historical Society.
The group was one of some 23 individuals and societies that lodged objections with Limerick City Council’s planning department last year regarding the development, which surrounds the protected structure of Jackson’s Turret.
In its appeal to the planning body, which was lodged on January 17, it states: “The society feels that the development is out of scale and character with the area in question.
“While the original application to demolish Jackson’s Turret (now a protected structure) has been modified, the construction of such a large apartment block in such close proximity to this important 18th century house is undesirable.â€
Thomond Archaeological and Historical Society went on to state that the loss of two other historic buildings near Jackson’s Turret–Strandville and Curragour House–which are due to be demolished, was “regrettableâ€.
The one-page appeal also states that“issues such as parking and traffic from the proposed building in that particular area also seem to use to have been given insufficient considerationâ€.
Gerard Wall, the developer behind the €10m residential development, previously said: “I would fully expect it go to An Bord Pleanala, but the majority of the people on Clancy Strand are in favour of the development. We’ve done exactly what the planners have asked of us and they have endorsed the designs.â€
Mr Wall owns Jackson’s Turret and lives there with his family. He said the building will be fully restored–at a cost of €500,000–should the development proceed.
Despite objections from numerous residents, the Irish Georgian Society and An Taisce, the development was given the go-ahead by city council earlier this month, with 23 conditions attached.
An Bord Pleanala is expected to make a decision on the application by May 21.
Residents to meet over Crescent plan Concern over traffic caused by Marks & Spencer outlet
RESIDENTS in the Dooradoyle/Raheen area are to hold a meeting within the next two weeks to formally decide whether they will lodge an objection to the proposed multi-million euro expansion at the Crescent shopping Centre.
Separate planning applications have been lodged with Limerick County Council for the expansion of the Dooradoyle-based shopping centre to include a Marks & Spencer retail unit, and to revise the traffic layout in the area to accommodate for an anticipated rise in visitors to the centre.According to members of the Residents’ Alliance Committee, based in Raheen, the proposal to extend the shopping centre is at the expense of basic infrastructure which the area lacks.
“There is no infrastructure out here — what is here at the moment simply sucks. The builder always seems to be ahead and the council is just lagging behind,” said committee member Mike Cussen.
An application has been lodged by the Dublin-based company Stapleyside Company Ltd & Derenburg Ltd, for the replacement of the existing roundabout at the junction of St Nessan’s Road and Dooradoyle Road. This would allow for a new cross road junction and additional access to the Crescent Shopping Centre.
The new junction layout and all proposed works are said to tie into the ongoing road improvements to the St Nessan’s Road overbridge and the Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase A new bus stop would also be provided on the Dooradoyle Road, near existing Dooradoyle Mall entrance.
Internal vehicular routes within the Crescent Shopping Centre would also have to be realigned, and 165 car parking spaces would be removed.Under the plans to expand the shopping centre, nine new retail units have also been proposed. These units would be located along a new retail street between the proposed Marks & Spencer building and the existing Crescent Shopping Centre.
If the planning application is approved, Marks & Spencer would occupy more than 10,000 square metres and would be located to the southeast of the site, opposite the Garryowen entrance.
Its hard to disagree about the lack of infrastructure in this area, the last 10 years have seen huge levels of commercial and residential development which has meant more and more cars on already clogged roads, this policy cant go on for ever! As for the proposed extension to the shopping centre, its looks like the existing Garryowen? entrance will remain untouched with the new retail units being constructed adjacent to it, the new wing also appears to be completely independant from the existing centre. The new multi storey carpark is to be located on an existing surface carpark between this new wing and the omniplex cinema.
The plans for a new signalised junction (see image 3) to replace the existing roundabout appear to show dedicated lanes to partially separate traffic heading to the shopping centre and traffic heading elsewhere.
Report of the Limerick City Council Boundary Committee
The Limerick Leader is reporting that the minister for the environment has given the go-ahead for the Limerick County Council lands on the northside of the city to be transferred into the administrative area of Limerick City Council. I was under the impression that this had already gone ahead as of January 1st this year?
I only hope that this is the start of a proper re-evaluation of the entire City boundary, its only right that a similar study is carried out on the southside!
Gormley’s green light for Limerick city boundary
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley has ended a 58-year stalemate and cleared the way for extending Limerick city’s boundaries.
Mr Gormley – who has strong links with the city – has strongly backed the long-sought boundary extension which will see large parts of Moyross and Caherdavin integrated into the city at long last.The Minister told the Limerick Leader this Wednesday that he had received the Limerick Boundary Committee report of Boundary Committee which he had set up in October 2007.
This followed the Fitzgerald Report which recommended, among other things, that the borough boundary be extended to include thousands of homes in Moyross and Caherdavin in the city.
“I have a strong personal connection with Limerick City and I will give my full support to the regeneration and development work underway
in Limerick, which will benefit the entire region,” the Minister told the Leader earlier today.Mr Gormley, who grew up in Corbally and went to school to St Munchin’s College, added: “In view of the launch of the Vision Statements for the Moyross and Southill Regeneration Plans by the President recently, I particularly welcome the local political support and agreement, as voiced by Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council.”
The Minister now intends to sign an order which will make the boundary extension legally binding. This will require TDs’ and Senators’ approval but that is seen as a formality at this stage.
Recommendation to the Minister
In the interests of convenient and effective local government, in order to address the geographical divorcement of the area concerned from Limerick County Council, and to assist the implementation of the Fitzgerald report, the Boundary Committee recommends that the Minister proceeds with a boundary alteration, to include the townlands of Ballygrennan, Caherdavin, Clonconane, Clondrinagh, Clonmacken, Coonagh East,Coonagh West, Knock and Shannabooly within Limerick City Council’s boundary.
@CologneMike wrote:
It looks odd alright to see the dual carriageway enter the tunnel and then disappear in the middle of a lake. I don’t know anything about the lake itself, if it’s origins is natural or man made through quarrying (cement works?). The lake could be an interesting solution / compromise for relocating the Limerick floating docks?
Bunlicky lake as its known is located on lands owned by Irish cement, material was quarried from here to be used at the factory nearby. I remember reading somewhere that it is listed as a national heritage area and is home to some rare species of flora and fauna. I think Irish Cement also operate (or used to operate) a tailings pond here.
It was obviously a much cheaper solution to construct a causeway over the lake, the only other option would have been to construct a much longer tunnel under both Bunlicky lake and the Shannon itself, a distance of over a mile! In fairness that was never going to happen! Anyway I look forward to driving across Bunlicky lake in the next couple of years, even if we will have to pay for that pleasure!:(
@CologneMike wrote:
I must say the progress on this project has been highly impressive so far, especially given the poor ground conditions along much of the route. All of the bridge structures (with the exception of Ballinacurra creek) are either well underway or substantially complete, I think theres no doubt that the project will come in ahead of its scheduled late 2010 completion date. Although just looking at the aerial shot of the Rossbrien interchange, the loops appear to be fairly tight, hopefully this wont cause too many problems!
Robert Butler is also behind the mixed use development at Punches Cross which is due to go to construction shortly. It features an anchor store of 4,010sq.m, five ancillary retail units, a restaurant, offices on the upper floor (4,721sq.m) along with 460 car parking spaces.
It would appear to be overscaled by at least 1 floor, you get the feeling that the design have been compromised in an attempt to squeeze in as much office space as possible! The architects here were clearly looking to capitalise on the positive reaction to Carr Cotter Naessens award winning building across the street. Now it seems Healy & partners have developed quite a fondness for limestone/sandstone cladding and glazed frontages, with 2 such buildings on O Connell street already on their portfolio.
15 Henry Street
€40m project tops off Henry Street
HENRY Street could well be dubbed ‘Millionaire’s Row’ within the next two years, as it has been confirmed that Robert Butler’s €40 million redevelopment of the GPO Hanging Gardens will be finalised in June 2009.
A few doors down from Mr Butler’s property are the multi-million euro offices of property tycoon Aidan Brooks at No 15 Henry Street, and Michael Daly’s towering glass structure at the corner of Henry Street and Bedford Row is nearly complete.Mr Butler told the Limerick Leader that the new multi-storey, mixed use development will possibly include a restaurant, as stated under the original planning application. However, due to the demand for office space on Henry Street it is likely this space will be used for more offices.
“When you mix in the old and the new it’s going to be absolutely fabulous. When it all comes together it will be one of the nicest developments we’ve ever had, and we’ve had a lot of developments,” said Mr Butler.
Work seems to have finally begun on this project and just as it has, an application has been lodged to omit the bar/nightclub element from the red brick mercantile building and instead include more office space. In the original application, it was proposed to convert the former hanging gardens building into bar and restaurant use and I presume this is still the intention! It would certainly give the development a lot more balance and help breathe a bit more life into a tired section of Henry Street, I think it would be a missed opportunity if the GPO complex was redeveloped solely for office accomodation.
0828
modifications to the permitted development (which lies within the curtilage of protected structures: R.P.S 306-GPO) and is currently under construction on foot of planning ref: P.06/330. Modifications will consist of a change of the permitted Mezzanaine Level bar/nightclub use to that of office use use with associated ancillary access and service infrastructure
GPO/Hanging Gardens Site Henry Street LimerickLooking at the bigger picture, there should be interesting times ahead for this area with the former smyths site due to come on the market along with the bord na gcon offices and ultimately the relocation of the divisional garda headquarters will also present a significant redevelopment opportunity.
Objection to massive Ballykeeffe proposal
By Eugene Phelan
JUST days after plans for a massive 426 house development were lodged, the newly-formed Concerned Residents Alliance has confirmed that it will be objecting to the project earmarked for a site near Ballykeeffe.
Plans for the multi-million euro housing development in Ballykeeffe have been lodged with Limerick County Council. The planning application was lodged earlier this by week Crescent Ridge Properties.But this Thursday, Mike Cussen of the Concerned Residents Alliance (CRA) said that the group would be objecting as the Fr Russell Road, Ballykeeffe area had not enough amenities, including school places, to cope with such a big housing project.
CRA represents resident groups in Ballinacurra, Caherdavin, Castletroy, Corbally, Dooradoyle, Patrickswell, Raheen and Rosbrien.
“We were formed from an emergency meeting of Limerick Residents’ Association, which was held to discuss the lack of community facilities, the increasing problem of anti-social behaviour and the devaluation of property,” said Mr Cussen.
The new group stresses its support for the Fitzgerald report and regeneration, but concern that the first recommendation by John Fitzgerald, that intensive policing arrangements be put in place, has not been done.
The developer at Ballykeeffe is proposing to build a total of 426 houses on a 35-acre site near Father Russell Road. The site is bound by the rail line to Irish Cement and the new Southern Ring Road approach route to the Shannon Tunnel, which will also run adjacent to the site.
According to the planning application, which was lodged with the local authority, Crescent Ridge Properties is seeking permission to build 294 houses, 66 duplexes and 66 apartments. The provision of car parking, landscaping and public lighting are also included in the application and it is also proposed that a creche will be built within the development.
If planning permission is granted, the existing Ballykeeffe boreen, which links father Russell Road and the Dock Road, will also be widened to facilitate the increased traffic flow and it is proposed that an existing house, located on the site, will be demolished.
Last June, the same developer was refused planning permission for a similar development at the same site after An Bord Pleanala overturned the decision of Limerick County Council to grant planning permission.
@Irishjon25 wrote:
Tuborg,
The mall under construction is that underneath the Coonagh Cross signage. Only Tesco (to the right of the signage) is currently open to the public. The remainder of the complex of which the main entrance will be under the Coonagh Cross signage is still currently under construction.Thanks for clearing that up! Like the majority of shopping centres it all looks rather uninspiring, however I’ll reserve final judgement until its properly completed! Clearly Limericks love affair with suburban shopping complexes shows no sign of ending. Apart from Coonagh cross, construction is well underway on the parkway valley centre and of course yet another major expansion of the crescent is in planning, the Castletroy sc now has new owners and there are talks of a major redevelopment there aswell.
That stretch of the Ennis road in the vicinity of Coonagh cross has seen a good deal of activity in recent years with the construction of the Jetland and the adjoining retail park. Now, just across the road, lidl have submitted an application for a new store on the site of the davin arms pub, whose loss will certainly be felt on match days at the gaelic grounds!:eek: Next door to the davin arms, there are plans for a mixed use development on the supemacs /o mara motors site.
The construction of a discount foodstore incorporating an off-licence (c. 1661m2 gross floor area 1286m2 net retail area) comprisingof a single storey building with a glassed front and side elevation over canopy area, enclosed dick leveller, removable compactor, L.P.G. tank and fenced compound and external signage to include 1 no. free standing double sided internally illuminated flagpole signs, 1 no. poster display and 1 no. building mounted internally illuminated signs. This application seeks permission for the demolition of exsisting single storey bar/lounge known as the ‘Davin Arms’ including all stores and ancillary areas associated with same. Planning permission is also sought for boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, site entrance, public lighting, car parking, connection to public services and all ancillary site works
Davin Arms, Ennis Road
@Irishjon25 wrote:
Here are a few photographs i took today of the new development at Coonagh Cross.
Looking at that drab exterior of the tesco outlet I thought the architects were after toning down their plans for the elaborate wing-like entrance features seen in earlier drawings! However I see an application has recently been submitted for the addition of a new shopping mall. Irishjon25 would I be right in thinking that there is also another mall under construction at the moment? I think I remember reading somewhere that it was due to be completed by March of this year!
Received Date: 04/01/2008
Development Description:
an addition of a south mall to the previously approved Coonagh Cross Shopping Centre (ref. no. 03/2050) as follows: additional of 1 no. comparison anchor and 121 no. line shops. Omission of line shops 18,19 & 20 from the original approval. Additional kiosks, plant areas, service passages, stairs, lifts, management offices, public toilets and storage. Demolition of the existing Fortune Flooring retail unit. Vertical and horizontal realignment of car parking and lorry circulation roads. Provision of 239 underground car parking spaces. 1 no. additional loading yard plus ESB substations. Total provision of 1800 car parking spaces with associated lighting, access roads, underground services and landscaping. Overall additional floor area applied for is 27,830m2 gross (11,034m2 net retail floor area). Total site area of the overall Coonagh Cross development has increased to 16.45ha(40.64 acres)Development Address: Clondrinagh, Clonconare, Ennis Road
Developers in new plan for 400 homes at Ballykeeffe
PLANS for a multi-million euro housing development in Ballykeeffe have been lodged with Limerick County Council.
The planning application was lodged earlier this week by Crescent Ridge Properties.The developer is proposing to build a total of 426 homes on a 35-acre site near the Father Russell Road. The site is bounded by the rail line to Irish Cement and the new Southern Ring Road approach route to the Shannon Tunnel will also run adjacent to the site.
According to the planning application which was lodged with the local authority, Crescent Ridge Properties is seeking permission to build 294 houses, 66 duplexes and 66 apartments. The provision of car parking, landscaping and public lighting are also included in the application and it is also proposed that a creche will be built within the development.
If planning permission is granted, the existing Ballykeeffe boreen, which links father Russell Road and the Dock Road, will also be widened to facilitate the increased traffic flow and it is proposed that an existing house, located on the site, will be demolished..
Theres a fairly extensive landbank between Ballykeeffe estate and the dock road and with the 2nd phase of the ring road on its way its bound to attract even more attention in the future. Incidentally the same company had a similar application for basically the same site dismissed as “premature” back in 2006. I wonder is the recently constructed Ballykeeffe boreen overbridge itself, wide enough to facilitate the proposed improvements?
