Not in my backyard? The reasons 125 homes have been blocked in Limerick in past two years

The construction of 125 houses and apartments were refused planning permission in Limerick since 2023, despite the ongoing call for more homes to be built across the county and country as the housing crisis continues to burden many people trying desperately to make it onto the property ladder.

There were a number of medium and large residential developments proposed to Limerick City & County Council within this two-year period. However, many were refused planning permission by the council and some faced fierce opposition from those living in the proposed areas of development.

Five planning applications for the construction of homes and apartments across Limerick particularly stand out from this time in terms of the impact they could have had on the housing need in the county.

These include a proposal for a residential and commercial development comprising 85 apartments in Limerick City in November 2023, the construction of 16 houses and 3 apartments in Abbeyfeale in September 2023, the change of use of an industrial building for the creation of 9 residential units in Ardagh in May 2024, the demolition of a building and replacement with residential accommodation and the construction of 2 more residential units in Oola in February 2025, and the construction of 9 houses and apartments in Castletroy in April 2025. 

Applications for the construction of single unit homes or the conversion of garages etc. for residential purposes have not been included here.

Four out of the five applications for these residential developments faced objections predominantly from those living in the areas where the developments were proposed. This is despite the nationwide call for more homes to be built to tackle the housing crisis, perhaps revealing a 'not in my backyard' mentality.

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Of course, many had valid concerns regarding some of the applications such as construction work causing structural problems for neighbouring properties as well as boundary issues. However, some objections raised by local residents show a greater concern for the "aesthetic" of the local area rather than the pressing need to address the shortage of homes in the county. 

An issue which was raised among the many objections to the proposed construction of 85 apartments in Limerick City in 2023 and the residential development of 9 homes and apartments in Castletroy earlier this year was the potential of these developments damaging the "character of the area" they were located in. 

This type of objection is not unique to Limerick, but rather proves to be a consistent issue in objections to developments across the country. It may seem like a vague reason to some people, but it did factor into the final decision process for the council regarding both of the developments.

The proposal for the construction of 85 apartments on Gerald Griffin Street in Limerick City was part of a major residential and commercial development at the end of 2023. However, it was faced with a number of objections from local businesses and residents. 

Among the reasons for objections were concerns surrounding the size of the development as well as the demolition of a warehouse on the site and its potential impact on the structural stability of neighbouring businesses. Noise pollution during the construction phase was also mentioned along with issues with the planned road layout.

Most notably, the impact the development would have on the character of the area was also cited among the many objections. Objectors argued that the height of the buildings would cause visual concerns, with some describing it as an "overbearing" structure. Closely related to this was the concern among locals about the development destroying the heritage of the area.

Indeed, Limerick City & County Council stated in their reasons for refusal that the development would "compromise" the historical character of the street in terms of its size. The council described the development as "visually obtrusive and overly dominant within the streetscape", adding that its size would be "insensitive" to the heritage of the area.

The proposal for the construction of 5 terraced houses, 2 duplex units and 2 apartments in Hazelhall, Castletroy in April saw similar concerns raised. There were numerous points raised in the objections to this development from locals and a councillor, particularly from residents of the neighbouring Monaleen Heights.

Again, objectors argued that the development was out of character with the area, stating that it would have "adverse effects on the aesthetic of the estate." It was said that: "The new builds will be an eyesore as they will be cosmetically different to the existing dormer bungalows on that street." 

The council agreed that the height and scale of the proposal was "visually dominant and overbearing." In its refusal letter to developers, the council said: "The design, scale and layout do not reflect the established character of the surrounding neighbourhood, appears incongruous and fails to respect the pattern and scale of the existing housing estate."

Limerick City & County Council also cited traffic concerns and the fact that the development would overlook homes in Monaleen Heights as more reasons for its refusal. And lastly, it stated that it would depreciate the value of those neighbouring houses as was brought up in multiple objections.

Arguably, the most frustrating point for those struggling to join the property ladder is people objecting to new homes being built due to developments potentially causing their own homes to "depreciate in value." Again, this is not unique to Limerick as it is a prevalent objection to new developments right across the country.

But what is interesting here is that the council supported the claim in its refusal. This was also cited as a factor in the council's refusal for the construction of the 85 apartments on Gerald Griffin Street in Limerick City.

Another issue which stood out among the proposals during this time was the lack of adequate water and wastewater infrastructure to cater for more homes in some parts of the county. The construction of 9 residential units in Ardagh in 2024 and the creation of 3 more in Oola earlier this year both saw wastewater issues being listed among their reasons for refusal by the council. 

Additionally, pre-existing issues with water pressure was observed by some residents within objections to the development in Castletroy, with locals reasonably concerned that the construction of more homes would further exacerbate the problem.