University of Limerick secures permission to change zoning of city centre campus

UNIVERSITY of Limerick (UL) officials have secured planning permission to change the zoning of its city centre campus and welcome up to 710 students.

Limerick City and County Council has approved the change of use of the former Dunnes Stores building in Sarsfield Street from its existing use as retail to educational.

Essentially a procedural change, it means the college can now expedite activity at the building which was purchased in 2019.

Prior to this, the complex had lain largely idle since the summer of 2008 when Dunnes went from having three city centre stores to just one.

In documents provided to the council, agents for UL state: “The proposed change of use will facilitate the principle of flexible learning.”

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They confirmed no sole college department will move into the city centre site.

Rather, they add, the university does expect there to be "constant footfall" in the space and some students and staff could be permanently located there from its main campus in Plassey, or located there in blocks.

In response to a request for further information from local planners, representatives for the college added that based on the available seat numbers in the Sarsfield Street campus, up to 710 students will be able to be accommodated.

Permission was given subject to five conditions.

These include a stipulation that information on the management of the way bikes on-site are stored by provided to council.

And the local authority also ordered a plan for details of the management of waste within the site.