Planners approve ‘Lidl’ element of new Limerick city suburb

PLANNERS have cleared the way for part of a new €600m development on the edge of Limerick city.

What amounts to a new suburb is being planned for Towlerton, off the Ballysimon Road to the east of Limerick.

Twenty-five hectares of land has been acquired near an area where the M7 and N24 roads meet.

The development will contain a medical centre, and will be anchored by a new branch of discount retailer Lidl, and the Educate Together Secondary School, which is due to open to students next month.

It is representatives of Lidl Ireland which are leading a part of this development, and council planners afforded the company conditional permission.

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 for medical use.

Limerick City and County Council has confirmed that it has given the go-ahead to this development, subject to 26 conditions.

On the site, Bons Secours also has permission for a new private hospital.

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In addition to this, a masterplan has been developed which envisages 300 apartments, offices and a hotel.

The project is being led by Kirkland Developments, a firm headed by Rudi Butler, the son of former city developer Robert Butler.

Rudi Butler has spoken before of his hopes the scheme can deliver up to 4,000 new jobs, and be delivered across five years, as well as providing accommodation for hundreds of people.

Meanwhile, Limerick City and County Council has announced its intention to seek permission from An Bord Pleanala for a number of elements which will connect this new suburb to the rest of the city.

In a notice published in last week’s edition of the Limerick Leader, the local authority said it will seek permission to construct a new road corridor of 260 metres.

It would include footpaths, landscaped verges and two off-road cycle tracks.

A new public lighting system is also planned, while a culvert across the Towlerton Stream where the existing newly constructed link road terminates is proposed.

Since it is the council applying for permission for the public amenities on the scheme, it is the role of the national planning appeals body to decide on these elements.