Tuborg

Limerick County Council refuse plans for Crescent expansion

By Áine Fitzgerald

PLANS for a multi-million euro expansion at the Crescent Shopping Centre to include retail giant Marks & Spencer have been refused by Limerick County Council on the grounds that it would cause “serious traffic congestion in the area”.

Separate planning applications were lodged with the Council last January 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 the anticipated rise in visitors to the centre. Both applications have been refused planning permission by the council.

Refusing planning permission for the retail development, planners at the council said it would “render the road network unsuitable to carry the increased road traffic likely to result from the proposed development”.

In relation to the plans to alter the traffic layout, planners said it would “seriously injure the amenities and depreciate the value of the properties located at the junction of St Nessan’s Road and Dooradoyle Road.”

Under the plans for the expansion of the shopping centre, nine new retail units had also been proposed, and would have been located along a new retail street between Marks & Spencer and the existing Crescent Shopping Centre.

Marks & Spencer was to occupy over 10,000 square metres and were to be located to the southeast of the site, opposite the Garryowen entrance. A seven-storey car park, over basement level, which would accommodate 881 parking spaces, was also noted in the plans.

The application was made by the Dublin-based company Stapleyside Company Ltd & Derenburg Ltd, which have overseen previous plans for expansion at the Crescent Shopping Centre.

Limerick Chronicle

I must say I didnt see this happening but I think its definitely the right decision, common sense planning for once. Im sure plenty of people will be up in arms over the loss of jobs and business etc, but we have to realise that we cant keep allowing large developments like this to go through when the necessary infrastructure just isnt there. Anyone can see that the Nessans and Dooradoyle roads are already struggling to deal with current traffic volumes and simply wont take the extra traffic that would be generated by this development. We cant just keep widening these roads either (not that the space exists anyway).

This ruling is also a good one for the city centre although thats an issue for another day. I would imagine the developers (Stapleyside & Derenburg) will now bring their case to An Bord Pleanala.

Meanwhile, Bank of Ireland have been granted permission for the refurbishment of their building at the corner of O Connell Street/Bedford Row. The work involves the removal of the existing facades and the construction of re-modelled facades aswell as new signage.

Unfortunately though it looks like we wont actually get to see the revamped exterior until the work is actually completed.:rolleyes:

The Thomond Archaeological and Historical Society have lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against the decision to grant permission for a tensile roof structure over the milk market courtyard.

Petition opposes Limerick Milk Market plans

By Anne Sheridan

A PETITION signed by over 100 people to maintain the Milk Market as an open-air market and save it from “becoming a shopping mall” has been submitted to An Bord Pleanala.

Planning permission was granted by Limerick City Council this June for the €2m redevelopment of the Milk Market – a protected structure – which could see the market open six days a week, include a 120-seat restaurant and covered with a weatherproofed tensile.

However, the Thomond Archaeological and Historical Society believe the “whole proposal is unwanted by traders..and is totally unnecessary.” The society also stated to An Bord Pleanala that they believe the proposed tensile roof is an “intrusive new structure” and would change the character of the market.

But Market Trustees chairman David O’Mahony previously told the Leader that their proposal aims to rejuvenate the market.

“The whole idea is to present a space that will be attractive to a multiple of micro-businesses with other changeable attractions around them. Local small business start-ups will have an opportunity to use this area as a showcase for their talent,” said Mr O’Mahony.

He said the new restaurant will provide the “financial foundation” for the revitalised Milk Market and fellow market trustee, Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Kiely also welcomed the development, describing the plans as “long overdue”.

I must say I think this is an unfortunate development. It is the intention of the market trustees to expand the milk market into a 6 day operation, currently it only operates of a Saturday morning and is used as a car park for the rest of the week. Any plan that will make the market more user friendly and popular should be welcomed. Now though a decision wont be made until November and with the way ABP have been operating lately, it’ll probably be even longer!

@Briain wrote:

Well what about the presentation that happened in UL back in April/May? There Hugh Murray presented the plan for the regeneration of Kings Island, along with the other regeneration agencies discussing where they were heading and how they were doing it. MOL’s plan seemed to be fairly far along, canals introduced into the island, a medieval quarter preserved and the location of a public park & sports facilities at the other end of the island to attract people through it. Obviously a mix of social/private housing also.

I would have thought some of the contributors here would have attended the meeting back then?

Obviously Murray O Laoire have been retained as consultants for the Kings Island regeneration so! Perhaps their previous experience of this area was a factor in the decision? It will be interesting to see how much this new strategy differs from the original. If I remember correctly the original plan did not involve the demolition of the existing housing stock, placing the emphasis on refurbishment instead. Althought I think its generally acknowledged now that the demolition of the St Mary’s park estate is essential to the successful regeneration of the area. My only fear at this stage though is what effect will the current deterioration in the public finances have on the Limerick regeneration programmes?

@Briain wrote:

That is what’s happening with Murray O’Laoire’s plan for the redevelopment of Kings Island isn’t it?

That plan was part of the Governments RAPID strategy launched 7 or 8 years ago, Murray O’Laoire were brought in to undertake a review of the Kings Island area and draw up a draft masterlan as to how the area could be improved. Kings Island has now been included in the Northside Regeneration strategy. Both the Northside and Southside masterplans were scheduled to be completed last month but we are still awaiting their publication.

We’ve all heard that the City Council supposedly favours clearing the whole Island field and developing a new riverside quarter comprising high quality residential, commercial and leisure facilities. It all sounds great in theory but ultimately we will have to wait and see what the regeneration agency proposes. What is clear though is that this part of Kings Island really deserves a more appropriate use than a 1940s council housing estate.

@tomk wrote:

The city centre has also been struggling, with anecdotal evidence suggesting the number of vacant shops there is rising. Five shops at Sarsfield Street alone have closed in recent months.

Retail research company Crest’s annual shopping centre review ranked three shopping centres in Limerick amongst the 10 worst performers in the country. In 50th and last place was Jetland shopping centre while Castletroy and Parkway were also in the bottom ten.

That article bears all the hallmarks of a journalist desperately trying to construct a story out of nothing, although unfortunately this is what we have come to expect in Irish journalism. You have to put those closures into some bit of context. At the moment, Limerick has 6 Dunnes Stores outlets, the Sarsfield Street outlet is no longer needed as a bigger and much more modern store is located only just down the street. The O Connell Street store was the companys first in Limerick but is also the smallest by some considerable distance and is basically obselete at this stage. I just hope that when Dunnes move out next month, the unit wont lie vacant for too long. Also I believe its not beyond the bounds of possibility that Dunnes will take one of three anchor units in the opera complex (which the City Council have requested further info on btw!) As for the units on Sarsfield Street, the three retailers that traded out of them have opted for concession outlets in Debenhams, they havent moved out of the city centre.

In fairness, nobody could be surprised at the performance of the Castletroy sc, it just hasnt taken off at all. Oddly, more retail units are planned for the site immediately adjacent to the complex.:confused: Meanwhile further information has been requested on the proposed redevelopment of the Parkway, I fully expect this project to be scaled back dramatically, I simply dont see where the demand is for another large scale retail complex.

The problems faced by retailers in Limerick are a direct result of the boundary issue. In spite of the incompetence of Limerick County Council, the city centre has continued to fight on and indeed is now busier than ever. More new businesses are due to open on Bedford Row over the coming weeks and a number of new restaurants and cafes are planned for Thomas Street. However now is the time to stop pussy footing around, the City Council and the Limerick business community must continue to pressure John Gormley over the boundary issue because it is plainly obvious that the 2 councils are not going to reach an agreement between themselves.

Limerick retail units offered rent-free for 18 months

A MASSIVE €600,000 incentive is being offered to encourage potential retailers to occupy three vacant premises on Sarsfield Street in the heart of the city’s shopping district.

Located at Sarsfield Hall, the properties which were formerly occupied by fashion chains The Bay Trading Company, Faith and TopShop, are currently being offered for let with a bonus of eighteen months free rent.

In recent months Faith has relocated to nearby Debenhams while TopShop continues to operate a store at the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle.

The Limerick Chronicle has learned the total annual rent for all three properties, is in the region of €400,000 which would equate to almost €600,000 over the eighteen month period.

The offer of 18 months free rent comes less than a fortnight after it was confirmed that the Sarsfield Bridge Hotel, which incorporates Pier One, is now operating as a hostel for 125 asylum seekers.

“It is a sign of the changing times and I wouldn’t say Limerick is completely unique in that because everywhere is finding an issue with this,” said Chief Executive of the Limerick Chamber of Commerce, Maria Kelly, who said she has concerns about the offer of 18 months free rent.

“Rents in Limerick are lower in the city than they are in the county and that is unique to Limerick and I think it does have to be looked at and it would create concern,” she added.

Potential retailers have the option of leasing the Sarsfield Street stores individually or as one larger unit until May 31, 2025. It is understood a rent review will take place in two years time and that there is an option of a break from the lease in 2010.

Sarsfield Street has taken quite a serious nosedive recently with a number of businesses vacating the area. The retailers mentioned in the article have all closed in the course of the last 9 months or so. Right next door, the comical single storey shed type structures are also lying empty. Its always been a source of bemusement to me as to why this site has never been properly developed, especially considering its location and the Iarge amount of scope to the rear.

Realistically the Sarsfield bridge hotel and the adjacent apartment block also need to go. They are both dreadful buildings that contribute absolutely nothing to the area. Although of course none of these would hold a torch to the Dunnes Stores building on the other side of the street!:o This along with Roches Stores 1980s extension and the Liddy Street retail units are 3 of the most depressing buildings in the city at present.

All is not lost though, under the radical masterplan for the area, this side of Sarsfield Street would be demolished (along with the rest of the general Aurthurs Quay area) and replaced by a new “cultural quarter” Lets hope it happens fairly soon!

Attached: Sarsfield Street aerial

After numerous false dawns, Limerick finally looks set to get its new greyhound stadium after the City Council gave the go-ahead for the development on the site of the old Greenpark racecourse on the Dock road. Previous plans for a stadium on another part of the old racecourse were shelved in 2005 due to problems with ground conditions. An alternative site was found near the two mile inn on the ennis road but this application was shot down by Clare county council due to concerns over potential traffic problems.

The new facility will cost around €18 million and is scheduled to open in early 2010.

07470

Permission for greyhound racing stadium and ancillary development works, car parking, lighting, landscaping and access works all on a site of 6.6 Ha. The track will be a 500m Greyhound track (480m internal circumference/510m external circumference), it will provide stadia viewing, dining area, kennel block, shop storage areas and office buildings. Site levels will be increased to accommodate the proposed development so that the proposed FFL (Final Floor Level) of the stadium will be 4.5 OD. The track will generally be at a level of 4.2 aOD and the final height of the stadium building will be 16.1m with additional roof support poles of 9.7m. Filling of the lands over an infrastructure way leave is also proposed. The facility will provide for 510 car, 54 greyhound trainer vehicles and 3 coach parking spaces around the stadium will access onto and from the Dock Road via the permitted internal access which will require detail changes. The proposed will also allow for the construction of a roundabout on this internal access road to access the northeast end of the stadium site.

Former Greenpark Racecourse
Dock Road
Limerick

@dave123 wrote:

The reality is only a few extra Georgion building’s would be knocked which is on Ellen street, The rest of the Gerogian will still be retained. Look at the entire lenght of Patrick street every single Georgian on that side is being restored. In fact it looks like the georgion facades will be improved here. Please stop whinging. There is pros and cons to ANY development. The Pros far outwiegh the cons. The whole scheme is revised. We need this development. Otherwise the city will lose out to the suburbs. Please balance the focus here.

The new design, feel, layout, architecture, frontage and proportion of the development is now drastically better. The opening’s onto Patricks street is a million times better than the old design. I much prefer this re -design than the saving 3 or so dereclict Georgian buildings with the crappy old design

So all in all its better. This will be one of the most positive developments coming to the city. I’m not going to sit and here whinging over 3 or 4 georgian buildings FFS. When you have got to look at the overall. The nit picking here on the Opera centre is now old. This is really holding this city behind. The city centre needs retail space to compete with the suburbs. Right now Limerick is falling behind the rest. So you either sit here and whinge about it, and in a few years you will sit and whinge how there is no proper retail experience within the CBD. You decide.

I think its apparent at this stage that you are a bit of a development at all costs merchant, personally I prefer to take a more considered approach. When a proposal like this comes along, its dangerous to dive straight in and think wow that looks fantastic, lets build it! Its essential to examine it in detail, you seem to be under the impression that developers always get it right, they dont! You also seem to be blinded by the fact that the plans have been re-drawn, yes the new blueprint is a massive improvement on the previous design but it can still be tweaked for the better. Everyone here wants whats best for the city and considering the opera centre is going to have such a massive impact on the city, we should be striving for the best possible outcome in terms of architectural design and also in terms of striking a proper balance between redevelopment and conservation. Theres no point in settling for a second rate development and regretting it in the years ahead!

You’re completely wrong btw with your statement about Patrick Street. With the exception of the Catherine Hayes house, the buildings here arent being restored, its merely their facades that are being retained, theres a big difference. You go on as if we should somehow be grateful for this token level of heritage protection, facade retention is the very least we should accept.

So Im “whinging about “3 or 4 georgian buildings” am I? It is in fact six buildings that are proposed for demolition and as far as I’m concerned, the loss of these buildings would have a major adverse effect on the character of the area. I think it would be more in your line to look carefully at what is being proposed to replace these buildings on Ellen Street instead of making foolish and childish statements. Your attitude about the loss of historical buildings shows a high degree of ignorance, have you not realised that the sorry state of much of the city centre is a direct result of similar short sighted attitudes in years gone by?

Update on unstable building, 8 Cecil Street

Judge orders that dangerous building be made safe

JUDGE Tom O’Donnell has given the owner of a potentially dangerous and dilapidated Georgian building at 8 Cecil Street a month to make the building safe.

The court order was issued after the District Court Judge said that works weren’t progressing on the site, despite a notice from Limerick City Council in April and a number of previous court appearances .

Judge O’Donnell commented “this building is unsafe, dangerous and could fall and I’m not the slightest bit convinced of your client’s urgency”.

“The front of the building is on one of Limerick’s busiest thoroughfares. The back is in an appalling condition and I have huge concerns regarding the people of Limerick walking around. With a bad storm it could cause damage. The owner knew that this building has been deteriorating for some time and was in a deplorable condition. This didn’t happen overnight. Nothing has been done on this building for the past 12 months and this building has been in this condition for over a year,” he added.

Representing Limerick City Council, solicitor Gerard Reidy, questioned Victor Lopez, a structural engineer who had surveyed the building on behalf of the Local Authority.

Mr Lopez said that a demolition contractor from Newcastle West has now been appointed by owner John Hogan to carry out works at the Cecil Street building and that the work would take 3/4 weeks from the time he was on site. However, he had no idea when the works would begin.

Mr Lopez said: “Nothing has been done on the site. And I feel that it is quite urgent that a contractor is brought on site and takes some action as soon as possible”.

Also stressing the urgency required, Mr Reidy pointed out that the building has “no back facade, the front is free standing and there is a lot of debris weighing the building down”.
At an earlier court sitting, Mr Lopez had told the court that the front facade of the building at number eight Cecil Street “is self standing”.

“The front of the building doesn’t look that bad but it is not properly connected with the rest of the building. In the rear of the property, the back wall has collapsed and a lot of debris is on some of the floors.

“It is in danger of collapse, although this is not really seen from the front. The roof is sagging as well and it’s a dangerous structure and a serious concern. Essentially, we need to create a structured steel frame and tie it to hold it in position. There is also a considerable amount of collapsed internal debris, which will need to be removed or it will weight it down. When the work is done to number eight, the adjoining buildings will also need to be braced as it’s a terrace,” he said.

However, Stephen McNamara, the solicitor defending the owner of the building, said that his client was made aware that the building was unsafe on April 23 and since then has done everything he can.
“He has employed a contractor,” he said.

The fact that a notice had to be served as a last resort because nothing was happening was pointed out by Judge O’Donnell however. “This didn’t happen overnight. And I’m not convinced that everything possible is being done, based on what I’ve heard over the last three weeks. What has he done over the past 12 months,? he asked.

He also expressed shock that the owner had known about the problems in the deteriorating building for over 12 months, but had taken no action. He then issued a Court Order under Section 3, Subsection 5 of the Local Government Sanitary Services Act 1964, which compels the owner to carry out improvement works within four weeks.

Limerick Post

All in all a pretty shambolic state of affairs. Back in 2006 permission was granted for a change of use to office accomodation with a three storey extension to the rear but obviously no work has taken place yet. Surely now after this court order, we’ll finally see some action on behalf of the developer.

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