Decision made on plans for new 300-job health centre in Limerick

AN BORD Pleanala has denied a developer permission to build a multi-million euro health centre which could have employed 300 people in Limerick.

Philip Doyle of Valley Healthcare sought the green light to develop a five-storey, 8,452 square-metre primary care centre in the shadow of the Jetland Shopping Centre at Caherdavin, and designed to serve almost 50,000 people.

Agents for the businessman said the facility would provide “significant health and social care services for the city of Limerick outside of hospital setting.”

It was confirmed that it would be sponsored by the HSE and cater for public patients as a result.

WATCH: Thousands march through Limerick city for UHL protest

The massive project was designed to serve as a headquarters for smaller health centres at Ballynanty, Thomond, Westbury and the King’s Island.

“The proposed primary care health centre will be anchored by four to five GPs, Tusla and HSE staff, the development is likely to employ 304 persons,” the documentation to the council adds.

It also reveals a list of services planned for the building, including public health nursing, occupational therapy, podiatry, psychology, dental services, physiotherapy, as well as public health and general nursing.

However, the proposal was blocked by local authority planners which saw Mr Doyle appeal against this decision to An Bord Pleanala.

But the national planning appeals body agreed with Limerick City and County Council's ruling and decided to reject the application.

They pointed out the development was being made on lands zoned agriculture, which would mean any building there would be "contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

The board also backed up flood concerns which were raised by some of the 12 groups and individuals who wrote to the council seeking to have the planning blocked in the first instance.

The decision comes against the backdrop of a crisis in Limerick's public health sector, which saw more than 11,000 people take to the streets in protest over the weekend.