Judgement on estate ‘very serious’, says UL chancellor

THE CHANCELLOR of University of Limerick has described as “very serious” a ruling by the council that an estate at the centre of a major controversy is “unauthorised” in terms of being used as student accommodation.

Council refused retention planning permission for boundary and landscaping works at the development in Drominbeg, Rhebogue which is at the epicentre of a storm which has rocked the college.

This news comes after it emerged that university bosses lost €5.2m paying inflated prices for the 20 homes in the estate.

Despite the fact these homes in Rhebogue are now occupied, council has determined the site is “considered unauthorised” for student accommodation.

“The retention of works associated would facilitate this unauthorised [student accommodation] use and therefore the planning authority are not disposed to granting permission,” the council said in a ruling rejecting the developer Silvergrove’s bid to make the changes.

Silvergrove did not return a request for comment from the Limerick Leader as the newspaper went to press this Tuesday night.

But agents acting for the developer have, in a written submission to council dated February 28 last, said they are not aware of any “change of use” occurring at Drominbeg.

They said the applicant understands University of Limerick, which purchased the homes, had engaged directly with council after getting a warning letter.

“The use of the dwellings (contended or otherwise) is unrelated to the nature of this application,” the agents added.

The refusal to allow the cosmetic changes to the estate piles the pressure on the college’s executive. It comes after a week when college president Professor Kerstin Mey has gone on sick leave.

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The issue of the planning permission was raised with chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan in a meeting attended by students and staff at University Concert Hall last Thursday.

Declan Mills, an administrator in Kemmy Business School, and who volunteers as chair of the advisory board of the Post-Graduate Students Union described the refusal as “worrying” and “ frightening”.

Prof Laffan agreed, saying it is a “very serious” situation.