REVEALED: Six areas of Limerick identified for affordable housing

SIX PARTS of Limerick have been identified to build up to 4,600 affordable homes on.

The Land Development Agency (LDA), the group charged with delivering affordable and social housing on State-owned land has highlighted six sites in and around the city centre which it believes can be used for homes which are subsidised to allow people on moderate incomes the chance to own their own property.

The land in Limerick is the gasworks site at O'Curry Street/Dock Road junction, currently owned by Ervia, the State-owned firm delivering water, gas and other resources, is on the list.

A few yards away, the city's docklands are being primed for housing, according to the LDA's report.

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Land at the city's fire station in Mulgrave Street has also been identified - this is owned by the local authority.

And housing could also be developed on the site of University Maternity Hospital Limerick and the neighbouring LPYMA field at Ennis Road.

The long-term plan from site owners, the HSE is to close this facility and build a new one on the site of University Hospital Limerick in Dooradoyle.

The ESB site at the junction of Rosbrien Road and Clarina Park is also expected to be sought for accommodation.

And the possibility of land around Colbert bus station being used for housing has previously been broached before by the agency.

It's predicted all these sites could deliver between 3,440 and 4,600 houses.

The LDA said its sites were chosen and have been assessed based on their potential ability to deliver affordable housing, facilitate the creation of new sustainable communities, and add to existing ones.

The report will now be subject to further consideration by the Government and the LDA.

John Coleman, chief executive of the LDA, said: "The publication of the Report on Relevant Public Land is an important milestone for the LDA. It identifies State-owned land that has the potential to be repurposed to deliver a pipeline of affordable homes into the future. This report and subsequent updates will greatly assist the LDA, government and State agencies to locate affordable housing and public facilities in the optimum locations. The LDA is committed to working closely with the public bodies involved to find common ground for the release of land for affordable housing purposes and for the common good."

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien added: "This report is a crucial part of the government’s work to ensure a supply of affordable housing in areas where it is needed most. The LDA has been resourced to plan and deliver affordable homes on state-owned land and this strategic report will enable the Government and my Department to plan ahead. I intend to review the report closely and work with the LDA and the public bodies involved to identify high potential sites that could be prioritised as part of the LDA’s ongoing delivery pipeline."

Dearbhla Lawson, head of strategic planning in LDA, said: "This report identifies the potential to utilise well-located public land to deliver not just affordable housing, but to contribute to the creation of sustainable communities and support the vitality and viability of our cities and towns. It is a strategic approach and important first step in identifying the possibilities for the future use of public land in the public interest. We look forward to engaging with our partners about the potential for public lands to help deliver more affordable housing and sustainable communities into the future."