Council approves plans for 122 apartments in Limerick suburb

A NEW housing estate in the city suburbs has received conditional planning permission - despite more than 60 people contacting the council to oppose it.

Developer Philip Collins has secured the go-ahead from council to construct 122 new homes and apartments at land near Golf Links Road in Castletroy/Monaleen.

In that number is 57 apartments in seven three-storey blocks with a mix of one, two and three-bedroomed units.

Also planned are 65 new homes in a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, all of which will be two-storey in height.

Existing agricultural buildings will be knocked to make way for these homes.

If the plans go ahead as the developer envisages, six of these will be four-bedroomed homes, with the remainder having three bedrooms.

A crèche facility for 58 children is also proposed, while 114 car parking spots and 311 spaces for bikes will be provided.

Residents’ groups from Evanwood, Ashfort and Kylemore - all estates which neighbour the development site - have held a number of public meetings in opposition to the project.

Letters were delivered to homes across all three estates giving information on how to object to the planning application.

Among the concerns raised by residents is an increase in traffic congestion, the danger of road accidents as a result, and the pressure put on local water and sewer supplies with an increased population.

The Limerick Leader understands residents will appeal this planning decision to An Bord Pleanala.

The services of an expert planner have been acquired and a fund to cover the fees required to keep fighting the plan is in place.

Limerick man part of team of opticians giving gift of sight in India

A letter from the Kylemore Residents Group states: “We believe the scale and density of the proposed development is going to be of grave concern to many Kylemore residents and residents of neighbouring estates, Evanwood and Ashfort.”

Ashfort’s residents group said with a plan to use their estate as the entrance to the new development, it will add “significant traffic congestion” to the entrance and spark concerns over safety.

They pointed out the intersection where an existing crèche operates from, Tall Trees, will become the main thoroughfare for traffic.

Evanwood Residents Association say they believe the new apartments will seek to tap into their drainage and sewage system.

“We have grave concerns such a densely populated development will put undue pressure on a system which is already experiencing a serious capacity issue. We do not want to see flooding or pooling in Evanwood,” their letter to residents read.

The developer had not previously returned a request for comment from the Limerick Leader.

Council granted the development permission subject to 24 conditions.