Ten sites in Limerick identified for modular housing

TEN LIMERICK city sites have been identified to deliver rapid-build modular homes in Limerick in a move which could provide accommodation for more than 2,500 people.

At a special briefing, Mayor John Moran gave councillors details of a number of sites in Limerick which have been earmarked for his flagship policy of temporary housing, which he hopes to use as a “bridge” for people on the council waiting list between being left in limbo and finding a forever home.

It’s estimated the 10 sites could provide space for a total of 2,692 people.

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On the southside of the city, land has been identified at the former Guinness factory site at Upper Carey’s Road, in Janesboro, Caledonian Park, off Hyde Road, O’Malley Park in Southill and Janesboro Fields.

Elsewhere, land at Mungret is being earmarked, as well as space at Clarina Park in Ballinacurra Weston.

North of the Shannon, sites at Glenagross Park, Pineview and two parcels of land at Delmege Park in Moyross are being looked at, according to data presented to councillors.

“We will be looking at these in phases,” Mayor Moran confirmed.

He said the first thing which needs to be done is to get two demonstration modular units built in Arthur’s Quay Park to test the market out.

One of these units could be no bigger than two car parking spaces, but the first citizen believes the demand is there.

This demonstration is “only weeks away”, he added.

Mayor Moran said: “We are driving on with sites. Inevitably we are picking sites in the city centre which are close to transport. People who are looking for housing and cannot afford it, probably don't have cars. Can we find sites close to amenities? Or in areas we want to put amenities over the next couple of years?”

He stressed this is not a short-term fix, with different people at different times potentially moving into these modular housing units for more than 20 years.

“I know there will be questions to be had with the community where these sites are going in like any other planning permission. But what I'm hoping to do is if we can drive 2,000 or so of these units in the first couple of years of my mayoral term, that's around 17 to 20% of our housing need, and multiples of what we delivered last year which was 800 units. We need to ask the people of Limerick to come with us on this,” he concluded.