Dozens object to huge housing development plan by son of EuroMillions winner

PLANS by the son of Euro-Millions winner Dolores McNamara for a major student accommodation and housing development have attracted dozens of objections.

A&G Thomond Builders, whose directors are Gary McNamara and his wife Michelle, are seeking to construct on land situated between Groody Road and the Caislean na hAbhann estate over a seven-year period.

The development is projected to see 95 apartments, 22 houses and a purpose-built student accommodation complex comprising of 309 bed spaces, with agents for the applicant stating that it’s anticipated the scheme will be operational between 2027 and 2028 if all goes to plan.

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But 45 groups and individuals had written to council expressing concerns over the development by the deadline for submissions.

In that number is a massive submission from the Caislean na hAbhann residents association, signed by 230 people across 123 homes.

One person who wrote to council stated: “The scale and intensity of this development would inevitably generate excessive noise, late-night activity, congregation and general disturbance resulting in a significant loss of quiet enjoyment and residential amenity for neighbouring residents.”

For their part, agents for A&G Thomond have outlined a series of measures which are planned to minimise anti-social behaviour.

The student accommodation would be accessible only through a keyfob, CCTV will be in operation, students will be given quiet hours between 10pm and 7am.

A management company will be in place to enforce this, and students can be evicted as a last resort, they added.

There have been complaints about the size and scale of what is planned, with one resident saying five-storey buildings planned would “create an overbearing and visually dominant presence”.

One described the design of what is proposed as a “monstrosity”.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle, who represents the area on the local authority, wrote: “It would be better planning if these purpose-built student accommodation buildings were located on the University of Limerick (UL) campus or adjacent to save students having to cross the Dublin Road.”

He claimed students already living in Castletroy are taking up “all free parking spaces” in local housing estates.

In supporting documentation, agents for the developer referenced demand for student housing, claiming there is a shortfall of 959 bedspaces in Limerick.

As part of a 17-page submission to council, the residents association said this assessment also takes into consideration students attending Mary Immaculate College and Technological University of the Shannon as well as UL.

They said students attending the first two colleges should not be assessed in conjunction with the application.

The association also highlighted that some general housing is planned as part of the application.

“The juxtaposition of high-occupancy student accommodation with family housing and conventional apartments introduces differing patterns of use and amenity demands,” they state.

A decision is scheduled to be made by the end of this month.