Limerick college's objection to student accommodation is ‘mind-boggling’

AN OBJECTION by Mary Immaculate College to student accommodation in Limerick has been described as “bizarre” and “mind-boggling”.

Plans for a new 22-room, three-storey apartment block at Courtbrack Avenue near the city college were approved by council.

The proposal is being delivered by a private developer, Westbourne Student Residences, with its proposed building being built alongside three other complexes housing third-level students.

However, the college has formally appealed against the council’s decision to approve - with An Bord Pleanala now not set to make a decision on whether the project goes ahead until December.

Agents acting on behalf of the college wrote in an initial objection to the council, that: “Student accommodation can be subject to boisterous and at times anti-social behaviour.”

“It is essential, particularly for younger students, to ensure they have adequate levels of privacy as well as adequate levels of recreation space. This is manifestly not the case in the present proposal as the exceptionally high density proposed can only be achieved by compromising on space separation,” it adds.

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Labour councillor Joe Leddin, a neighbour of Mary Immaculate College is “hugely disappointed” and has called on the institution to withdraw its appeal to the national planning body.

“I am getting letters from the college this very week begging people living in the South Circular/Ballinacurra area to see if they have a spare room and would be interested in taking a student.”

The councillor criticised the commentary the college’s objection uses around behaviour in some student accommodation.

“They're condemning their own students and accusing them of anti-social behaviour. It’s outrageous. To have a university object to the construction of student accommodation less than 500 yards from its front door is bizarre and mind-boggling.”

In a detailed submission, the college’s agents added the plans do not make adequate provision for car parking or vehicle access.

“We have demonstrated the proposal will result in significant breaches or normal planning codes including providing inadequate separation distance, inappropriate and unsafe access provision, interference with amenity of neighbouring properties, excessive density, site coverage and plot ratio and disregard for the character of the surrounding area.”