High Court quashes plan for 55 homes in Limerick

RESIDENTS have won a High Court case to stop the development of 55 homes in the shadow of their estate.

Michael Murphy Homes Ltd was granted permission by An Bord Pleanala for the new housing development near Hillcroft Close off St Patrick’s Road in the city.

It came despite a recommendation by the planning board’s own inspector it be rejected.

Off the back of this, the Hillcroft Close Residents Association and other people impacted by the project took a judicial review in the High Court. This is a mechanism where an application can be made to challenge the decision-making processes of administrative bodies like An Bord Pleanala.

READ MORE: 'Misplaced commentary is damaging' says CEO of Limerick's International Rugby Experience

The High Court has now moved to quash the decision to grant the development.

It came after An Bord Pleanala conceded the case.

In a statement, the residents association welcomed the decision.

“Hillcroft residents would have been badly impacted by the development, the green space where our children play and the cul-de-sac would have been gone,” they said.

They paid tribute to Glentworth Street solicitor Michelle Hayes who represented them in the High Court.

In proceedings, Ms Hayes argued the development would have involved breaches of the council’s development plan - which governs what types of developments are allowed in certain areas, alongside a number of other environmental directives.

Councillor Catherine Slattery added: “While we are all for the development of houses, if you’re going to be developing a big estate, you need to do it right.”

She highlighted how, had the project proceeded, a boundary wall would have been knocked.

“The existing estate would have become a rat run for cars and would have been disastrous,” she said.