Retention planning denied on Limerick site to rehome 96 Ukrainians

A BUILDING in Clarina village due to rehome 96 Ukrainians has been refused planning by Limerick City and County Council.

The council turned down a planning application for retention on the building – which will now be a temporary multi-occupancy accommodation centre – on January 28, 2022.

Retention was applied for “as built minor elevational amendments from previously granted to include window / door opes (sic), roof windows and unbuilt chimneys”.

Planning permission was sought for the change of use from one office unit to residential two bed apartment on the first floor; alteration to overall first floor layout from previously granted six apartments into eight apartments; alteration to second floor layout from previously granted eight apartments into seven apartments.

The refusal was appealed by the applicant to An Bord Pleanala. A decision was due to be made by June 28, 2022, but it hadn’t been decided on as of this Tuesday.

The accommodation is being contracted by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and will be operated by the owners and their team in accordance with DCEDIY requirements.

The Leader asked the department to comment on 96 people being accommodated in a building that the council has refused retention planning on.

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In response, a spokesperson said: “While the department cannot comment on individual cases, it should be noted that an exempted development regulation for the change of use of a wide repository of buildings was drafted with the Department of Housing.

“The statutory instrument will allow for the change of use of a range of buildings to be utilised for international protection emergency accommodation. DCEDIY is open to accepting offers of accommodation in these buildings once building control regulations are complied with and applied for in the appropriate manner.”

A council spokesperson said the application to retain elevational changes to a permitted development is currently on appeal with An Bord Pleanala following “a notification of decision to refuse for a single reason relating to proposals for surface water disposal”.

“The use of part of the property for accommodation for temporary accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection by the State does not require planning permission for the period of temporary protection,” said the spokesperson. They add that, “A regularisation fire cert has been applied for and compliance with part B of ‘building regulations’ is required”.

The council spokesperson said the owner is finishing the accommodation to the requirements for multi-occupancy temporary accommodation and once complete, the DCEDIY will be in a position to occupy it. Completion is expected by the end of the week.

The spokesperson confirmed the council has “an open investigation in relation to completion of infrastructural services in the broader estate and is seeking to resolve same through active engagement and negotiation with the owner/developer of the site”.