Questions raised over homes occupied by UL students

STUDENTS have moved into homes which University of Limerick (UL) bulk-bought, without the correct planning permission being in place it has been claimed.

It comes with the college facing questions over its purchase of the 20 homes in the Rhebogue area of the city for more than €11m - or around €550,000 each on average before any stamp duty.

A letter from Limerick’s planning authority - seen by the Leader - confirms that it had issued a warning letter, and described the use of the homes for students as “unauthorised”.

That’s because the homes were originally granted for residential use and earmarked for social housing. The letter from council went to Student Accommodation Services UL, and Silvergrove Developments, the firm which bought and developed the land.

Officials of Plassey Trust Company Ltd, a subsidiary firm of UL, have entered talks with the local authority in a bid to avoid having to seek fresh planning consent to use these homes for students.

Plassey Trust Company Ltd did not comment on the talks, but it’s understood the case will be made that the occupation of homes by a particular type of tenant does not raise new planning considerations, if the homes are used as designed and permitted under an original planning permission.

But the chairperson of the Rhebogue Residents Association Sarah Beasley has warned UL to expect objections from locals if the college was forced into taking out a fresh application.

UL has said that its subsidiary firm, Plassey Trust Company bought the 20 homes with 80 bedrooms, using “non-exchequer” money.

“The Rhebogue development, which is located within 2km of the main Castletroy campus is assigned exclusively to postgraduates, researchers and post-doctorates who require long-term, year-round accommodation and supports active travel to and from campus,” a statement from UL added.

UL executives are expected to be called to reappear before the Public Accounts Committee over the acquisition.

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Ms Beasley has contacted its chair, the Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley to also have some of the residents’ questions on the purchase answered.

She says the whole episode has left a “bitter taste” in the mouth and claimed there had been no communication from college management over the purchase.

This is disputed by UL, which said its senior leadership has “engaged extensively” with locals.

Ms Beasley, who will run in the local election this summer, said: “A semi-detached (in the area) went for €330,000 last October, and the next listing shows an €11m sale. It skews the market. It essentially means they (UL) can go into a housing estate and pay what they like anywhere,” she said. Since the students moved in, Ms Beasley added they have been good neighbours.