Limerick Chamber: City needs 60,000 more people to live in its centre

A NEW regional strategy must include plans to bring up to 60,000 more people to live in the city centre, the Limerick Chamber has said.

The business group has put together a comprehensive submission to the controversial Regional Strategic and Economic (Rses) plan, which many fear will see Cork develop at Limerick’s expense.

In a submission to the Southern Regional Assembly, members of which will ultimately decide on the final blueprint, the Limerick Chamber teamed up with Liveable Limerick to outline four things to get people back living in Limerick’s urban centre.

Initiatives include making units in Georgian Limerick, developing lands at the Docklands and the former Greenpark Racecourse, the continued regeneration process, and crucially, putting in place a transport strategy for the area.

Chamber economist Catriona Cahill, who has led the submission, said: “Limerick probably has the greatest potential for delivering inner-city living. The other cities Waterford, Galway, Dublin and Cork] are more developed in terms of high density than Limerick is. We have an urban fabric which can easily be adapted.”

She suggested any city centre living be mixed use, in terms of home ownership, rental, social and affordable housing.

Meanwhile, the group has also urged a rethinking of the city’s retail offering, with Ms Cahill acknowledging that a joint retail strategy is to be part of the RSES when it goes live.

However, until that happens, the Chamber wants to see “experimental retail models” in the city, and the implementation of a “business improvement district” scheme.

She suggested, as more people migrate to do their shopping on the internet, to create a “digital city centre”, and for the emphasis to be placed on offering “quality residential opportunities” in the city which attract a “high-spend demographic”.

A major improvement on transport must also come about, Ms Cahill added, saying: “We want frequent services, and an efficient public transport service. We have ideas around the delivery of whether it should be Bus Eireann or private operators, with the contracts going out to tender. We have views on this, we have research done, which we are currently holding back on and will release into the future.”

The fact Foynes is not included in the regional strategy – which will be decided upon by members of the Southern Assembly in the coming months – did not warrant a mention was criticised by the Chamber economist.

She said: “It has huge potential, particularly with Brexit, if there is more congestion in Dublin, it could support [expansion]. We don’t know what will happen with Brexit, or the impact it will have on Dublin Port. Even now, if you have cargo coming in, the road congestion which exists there, you don’t have the same in Foynes.”

Meanwhile, the Chamber also calls for the importance of University Hospital Limerick to be better recognised in the strategy.”

* For an interview with Caitriona: Business Leader, p16