Update issued on plans for 1,000 modular homes in Limerick

CONSULTANTS are being sought to prepare a business case to support Mayor John Moran's plans to develop 1,000 modular homes in Limerick.

A key plank of the mayor's programme for office, he is hoping to deliver the temporary homes for key workers in Limerick.

He has named them Smart homes - an acronym for Short-term Modular Affordable Rental Transition.

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It's hoped these homes will provide affordable rental options on temporary sites as ‘meanwhile homes’, bridging the gap until permanent long-term housing solutions become available.

Mayor Moran said: "The Smart housing pis a vital step towards addressing the urgent housing needs in Limerick. We need to find ways to deliver much more supply, and to deliver it much faster than is being done now. I want to channel the power of the state where the markets alone are failing."

"This initiative focuses on much more flexible and cheaper rental supply, which will take pressure off rent costs and the need to buy. It has been my number one priority in my first few months. I am delighted that already we have a dedicated team in our council working on this working closely with colleagues in Dublin. We are now set up to leverage extra help. I am hoping that others out there who share my desire to disrupt the standard way of thinking, to find new solutions to our failing markets, will come forward and answer our call for help. Together we can show that there are alternatives that work," he added.

Additionally, the plan is expected to leverage upcoming major events, like the Ryder Cup, to accelerate key infrastructure projects, such as modular accommodation for workers, which can be repurposed for Limerick's housing stock to alleviate housing pressure.

To this end, Limerick City and County Council is seeking a multi-disciplinary consultancy team to prepare a preliminary  business case in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Guidelines December 2023.

It will evaluate whether modular homes are a cost-effective method for providing short-term affordable rental homes compared to other delivery options available including the traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ building approach.

The case will also consider financial viability, available subventions, risk assessment, procurement delivery options and determine a preferred option to progress.

The evidence presented in this should contribute to the body of understanding on how modern methods of construction can support Limerick as a thriving city, supporting households at different life stages, with particular emphasis on alleviating demand pressure in the local housing market.

For more information on the plan, please click here

The closing date for quotations is 12pm on November 19, 2024.