Developer left unable to build land in Limerick village

A DEVELOPER planning up to 60 new homes in Patrickswell is unable to build on the 20-acre patch of land he has earmarked for them.

In spite of the housing crisis, soaring rents and homelessness across Limerick, Denis Lane of Milfort Properties has learned his land in the village can no longer be developed on because it has been rezoned from residential to agricultural land.

It follows the adoption of Limerick’s local development plan which governs what development is allowed in what areas.

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The Croom man bought the site, which lies adjacent to the existing Sycamore Heights estate, in 2018 when housing was permitted. But the change in zoning of the land means in effect, development is now prohibited there.

If Mr Lane applied for permission for housing from the council, it would most likely be refused.

“I've spoken to all our local TDs and they are scratching their heads about this. There is a new passenger line going through Patrickswell. These residents would be one-minute walk to a rail line possibly into the Raheen Industrial Estate and the city centre,” he said.

The developer believes the council are treating Patrickswell in the same way as other villages in Limerick by limiting development.

mong the reasons for this are limited capacity in the sewer systems.

Mr Lane points out this issue does not exist in Patrickswell - his site has a sewer line adjacent.

He also thinks Patrickswell should be treated differently given its proximity to the city, where thousands of people are working at University Hospital Limerick and in the Raheen Industrial Estate.

“I am a landlord in Limerick city. A lot of my clientele are trainee doctors in the Regional.

Some of their friends are sleeping in cars,” added Mr Lane.

“There is a starvation of accommodation in Raheen, three kilometres away.”

Mr Lane has secured support from Patrickswell-based councillor Fergus Kilcoyne, who has warned in the past about the impact changing the zoning of land will have on the village.

The Fianna Fail councillor is hoping Government step in with a directive, given the housing crisis.

“Patrickswell is the only village around Limerick that has proper sewage facilities which have been upgraded. For the life of me, I cannot understand why they’ve dezoned land in Patrickswell. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Cllr Kilcoyne could seek to have the land zoned back for housing, but would need the support of a three-quarters majority of the full council to do this.

In a statement, Limerick City and County Council wrote: “According to the 2022 census, Patrickswell has a population of 848. Taking into account dwellings under construction, with planning permission and live planning applications there is potential for an additional 374 units within the village equating to a doubling of existing population.”

The local authority added it believes the current zoning of land is “considered sufficient and aims to ensure that large scale, rapid development does not overwhelm and detract from the quintessential character of the village that has developed slowly and organically over time.”

Council said its area plan seeks to ensure that population growth is met and future needs of the village are accommodated.