An Bord Pleanála make decision on 200 student bed plan near University of Limerick
PLANS for a new student village which will bring more than 200 bed spaces to the doorstep of University of Limerick (UL) have been approved.
The development at Old Dublin Road, a short distance from UL's main campus, is set to rise between three and five blocks.
Located at an in-fill site, there will be 26 new apartments here providing some 202 new bed paces.
The initial application attracted several objections.
Despite this, Limerick City and County Council gave conditional planning permission to the scheme.
An appeal to the national planning authority followed, but An Bord Pleanála backed the council's initial decision.
Representatives of the applicants, Kearock Investments had warned that even with other developments under way, Limerick was facing a deficit of 2,200 student bed spaces by the academic year 2024/2025.
“Excess demand in Limerick in 2019 was calculated at 2,169 bed spaces, but taking into account a minimal delivery of units by 2024 and the increasing trajectory of enrolments, the excess demand for Limerick will be higher than it was in 2019. In a best-case scenario to realise 100% of the bed spaces by 2024/2025 would leave excess demand at over 2,200 bed spaces,” planning consultant Adam Kearney previously stated.
The developer added that outside of the college academic year, the facility may be used for tourist accommodation, and those studying at summer schools in Limerick.