Developer issues major update on €600m Limerick development

THE DEVELOPER behind a part of a new neighbourhood in Limerick has issued a major update.

As revealed by the Limerick Leader / Limerick Live earlier this year, a new €600m scheme is being planned on a brownfield site at Towlerton, near Ballysimon.

Headed up by Rudi Butler, the son of prominent city developer Richard, 25 hectares of land has been acquired near an area where the M7 and N24 converge.

The development will contain a medical centre, and will be anchored by a new branch of discount retailer Lidl and the new Educate Together secondary school.

Now representatives of Lidl Ireland - which submitted parts of the original planning application to council - has provided more information on its side of it.

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Given the size and scale of the new developments, a number of planning applications have been made.

Lidl's planning application envisages four buildings.

A new branch of the supermarket would be joined by a cafe, a three-storey building with space for six shops, or alternatively, office space or medical use.

Further to this, a six-storey building with space for four shops at ground level, and 38 apartments in the five floors above is planned.

Alternatively, the ground floor of this complex could be used for office space or medical use.

Some 42 new documents have been provided to city planners providing information on the environmental measures to be taken, predicted usage numbers of the new buildings and a retail impact assessment.

Although the application was lodged last year, it was in effect paused while the council awaited these documents.

Now it is once again active, and a decision is due to be made by August 1 next.

Construction of the new secondary school is well under way with students set to move from their temporary premises at Salesians in the city centre by in 2024

Elsewhere, Bons Secours also has permission for a private hospital.

To add to this, a masterplan has been developed which envisages 300 apartments, offices and a hotel to the site on the east of the city.

Speaking earlier this year, Mr Butler said the massive scheme is projected to deliver up to 4,000 jobs, and it's hoped it can be delivered over five years.

Healy Partners Architects have prepared the masterplan strategy for the overall site.

Mr Butler has previously spoken of how he hopes the new development can provide accommodation for up to 500 people.

The apartments would be split between one-bed, two-bed and three-bed, he added.