An Bord Pleanala set to decide on apartment plan in Limerick suburb

AN BORD Pleanala is to decide on whether a huge new apartment development next to a landmark local hotel can go ahead.

It comes after residents appealed against the council’s decision to grant conditional planning permission to developers Can2 Investments for the project.

Local planners had granted an application to demolish part of the South Court Hotel in Raheen.

In place of this, a six-storey tower is planned on a 2.31-acre site.

Some 104 apartments are planned, which will be divided into 51 one-bedroom apartments, 49 two-bed apartments and four three-bed apartments.

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A childcare facility, a gym and library for residents is included.

Two retail units are also part of the large-scale development.

There is a proposed direct connection between the South Court Hotel and the mixed-use development through a new one-storey and basement “hotel link”.

If granted, this would include the hotel reception, cafe and seating area, alongside a commercial kitchen, staff welfare facilities and an extension to the existing Cream Room bar.

Communal open space, and an area where hotel guests and residents of the apartment complex can mix is also included in the strategy.

There were more than 10 submissions made to council on the proposals.

Three local groups have appealed against the council’s decision to An Bord Pleanala, which has yet to announce a date for a decision.

Alongside this, Can2 Investments has also appealed one condition of the council’s decision, to the national planning appeals body.

Agents representing residents of the nearby Courtfields estate argued the plan “amounts to a gross overdevelopment of the site”.

They added it will “negatively impact on the residential and visual amenity of our clients and result in a serious traffic hazard.”

The agent listed 30 local people who support the appeal to An Bord Pleanala.

Another person who made an appeal wrote: “There are four schools located within the vicinity of the site not to mention the industrial estate traffic.”

The Grange Residents Association said the area is not ready for the population growth the apartments will bring.

They pointed out local schools are at capacity, there are limited public recreation facilities in the area. On top of this, they write the area does not have a community centre or sports centre.