Former Limerick city bank to become residential and commercial development

PLANS to transform a former Limerick city centre bank building into a commercial and residential development have been approved.

As exclusively revealed by the Limerick Leader, developers sought planning permission to convert the former Bank of Ireland building at 94, O'Connell Street into a multi-purpose complex.

Joseph Layden of Layden Property Holdings, the owners of the building, sought the go-ahead from council to transform the unit into a shop, new apartments plus a gym and cafe.

The existing bank building, which rises three levels above Limerick’s main thoroughfare, will be retained with a second seven-storey block.

Twenty-four new apartments are planned as part of the multi-million euro development in the heart of Limerick.

Three of the apartments are planned for the existing former bank building.

They will be one, one-bed unit, one, two-bed apartment and one apartment with three bedrooms.

The remainder of the residences are planned to be in the new, seven-storey block.

Analog begins €630m plan to transform Limerick campus

Here, four studio apartments are planned, six one-bed units and 11 two-bed apartments. According to the planning application, the former bank building will remain ‘as is’.

Non-historic extensions, walls and railings will be removed, as will internal walls, fireplaces and partitions.

The old banking hall is expected to become the flagship commercial unit in the development.

Heritage group An Taisce’s Limerick branch made contact with council planners over the project.

It said while it welcomes the project overall, especially given the new living spaces it will provide in the city centre, it suggested a realignment of the balconies provided as part of the planned apartments.

“As designed, these balconies, which won't give adequate levels of sunlight, will encourage the growth of moss, and will not get much use by future dwellers. If it were reversed, then the users would have better south-facing balconies where they could have both privacy and sunshine,” said the group.

Council afforded permission subject to a number of conditions. These include a stipulation that work cannot take place outside the hours of 8am to 8pm weekdays, and 8am to 4pm Saturdays. No work is permitted on Sundays and public holidays.