In Pictures: Renowned architect attends Limerick Civic Trust’s Christmas lunch

“THE CITY has transformed over 30 years. It’s amazing to walk around the city, it’s great to re-engage and look up. And if you look up at Limerick, it’s stunning. You are so lucky to have so much of your Georgian heritage in the city centre”.

The words of renowned architect Hugh Wallace, who was the guest of honour at the Limerick Civic Trust’s Christmas lunch which has made a welcome return this year after a three-year hiatus.

“Design is in his DNA,” said David O’Brien, the chief executive of the trust, which exists to improve Limerick’s built environment, “It is very apt to have Hugh here today as he is one of the foremost speakers in Ireland on the subject of reuse, recycle, restore and re-purpose. Hugh shares many of our aspirations.”

While the chair of the Civic Trust Donal Creaton praised Mr O’Brien for steering the ship, it wasn’t all plain sailing, as architect Hugh did acknowledge dereliction in the centre, and urged people to “please go out there and grab your city back.”

“It needs love and cuddling and attention,” the RTE star told the audience gathered at No 1 Pery Square Hotel in the city centre.

“People need to live in our cities to make them vibrant, attractive and fun. If we are to be truly sustainable, we must live in the streets behind us. We must live in our towns and villages,” he said.

But the planning authorities need to meet potential developers more than half-way, he argued.

“One thing I think we all have in common is frustration – frustration in the ability to achieve, and deal with the whole issue of building regulations. Not being able to take one of these magnificent buildings and be able to divide it into a two-bed, one bed and another two-bed, so there are three residential units for today’s population, today’s size of family,” said Hugh.

He said protected structures – where development can be difficult due to their age and historic nature – need to be dealt with “more strategically”.

“We need a more balanced approach. Otherwise, these buildings will fall completely into disrepair.”

All of this, he said, feeds into the housing crisis.

“We can predict our ageing population, where they are going to live. How many people will be in the country, what they will be doing. We should be building for them. We should not be abandoning our cities, towns, city centres and our villages. In my view, in Ireland, we are ad-libbing,” Hugh told the lunch.

Particular criticism was reserved for An Bord Pleanala, the body which in many cases is the final arbiter of planning applications in the country.

He said: “Today’s developers can be shot for being 10% wrong on an application. Why not work with them?”

“The planning system is grinding to a halt. It’s open to the most perverse hold-ups and stoppages. The board now say they won’t get back to you for between 14 and 16 months. It’s outrageous. In my opinion, it won’t be fixed because the political system is run on a five-year cycle – or perhaps a four-and-a-half year cycle,” he said in reference to the frequency of general elections.

Instead, he wants to see a “competing” national authority with a 20 year plan “to deliver a future everyone knows is going to happen.”

With local Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell in earshot, the architect called for the removal of VAT from all owner/occupier properties, and the writing-off of the tax when it comes to energy efficiency grants.

This, he believes will result in a higher return for any homeowner.

“We need a level playing field for all individuals. This would balance the situation somewhat,” he told the event.

“This is a gem of a city. I look around and think – gosh, what a fabulous city. You just need to grab it. I know that’s difficult, but it can be grabbed. It needs to be grabbed,” Hugh concluded.

At present, taxation is being used to deter out-of-use buildings.

“Sometimes, a subtle  nudge has to be given for the greater improvement of us all and indeed our city landscape,” said Trust chair Mr Creaton. “A simple message – avoid the taxes by cutting the dereliction!”