Mechanics Institute, Hartstonge Street, Limerick
Partial change of use of the Mechanics Institute in Limerick to community support services.
2360351 · Limerick County Council · Lodged 25 May 2023
- Reference
- 2360351
- Authority
- Limerick County Council
- Register status
- Decided
- Type
- PERMISSION
- Received
- 25 May 2023
Summary
AI-generatedThe proposal involves a partial change of use of the protected Mechanics Institute building from office to community support services managed by St. Vincent de Paul. Works include relocating the entrance door, internal reconfiguration, fabric repairs, window replacements, and installing solar panels.
Generated from the description above by an AI model and may contain mistakes. The council’s description is the authoritative record.
Official record
Development description
- The proposed development that consists of
- Partial change of use from office to community support services managed by the society of the st. Vincent de paul and (2) works to the building including relocation of entrance door to lane, conversion of existing entrance door to partially glazed screen, internal reconfiguration, fabric repairs, replacement of roof finish, replacement of external windows and doors, installation of rooflights and services penetrations, installation of lift, replacement of building services generally, external plant area at roof level, photovoltaic panels to rear slope of roof and all ancillary works associated with the development. The building is a protected structure rps. 3147. The mechanics institute building is owned by the limerick mechanics’ institute delegate board. Part of the building was previously in regular use as the constituency office of local labour party t. D. S but this use has ceased. The limerick mechanics’ institute delegate board maintain a presence in the building with archive, library and offices as well as general purpose hall but the building is only used occasionally and is generally under-utilised. The svp has operated a drop-in centre to the rear of ozanam house since 2002 but has insufficient space to properly support the range of services they offer. The location of the mechanics institute building directly adjacent to ozanam house renders the building an excellent opportunity to accommodate elements of the drop-in centre. The limerick mechanics’ institute delegate board supports the proposal but also want to retain a presence in the building due to its historical connection with the building. This planning application is for partial change of use of the building for those parts of the building that the svp propose to occupy and from which it will offer community support services. The planning application is also for repair works, reconfiguration works and renovation works all associated with the proposal. The mechanics building is a protected structure and located in an architectural conservation area. The planning application is supported by an architectural heritage impact assessment (ahia) prepared by michael pledge conservation architects
Land-use zoning
What this land is zoned for
“To protect, consolidate and facilitate the development of the City Centre commercial, retail, educational, leisure, residential, social and community uses and facilities.”
National zoning type: City/Town/village Centre, central area
Objective set by the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 (2022–2028). The planning authority decides each application on its own merits — this is the zoning context, not a compliance assessment.
Read the zoning objectives in the development planBuilt & sold
What happened next
Beyond the decision: whether this development was built, and what property here has sold for.
Recent sales nearby
within 500 m| Address | Date | Price | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Pery Sq, Basement, Limerick | Mar 2025 | €190,000 | 32 m |
| 4 Hartstone Mews, Hartstone St, Limericknot full market price | Sept 2025 | €140,000 | 70 m |
| 1 Catherineplace, Limerick | Feb 2025 | €790,000 | 111 m |
| 21 Barrington St, Limerick, Limerick | Apr 2025 | €490,000 | 116 m |
| 21a Barrington Street, Limerick | Apr 2025 | €490,000 | 116 m |
| Apt 10, Spring Rice House, Mallow Street | Apr 2025 | €225,000 | 151 m |
| 3 Pery St, Limerick, Limerick | Jan 2025 | €250,000 | 170 m |
| 4 St Josephs St, Limerick, Limerick | Nov 2025 | €265,000 | 175 m |
Nearby properties, not this site — a guide to local values.
Sources: Building Control Management System (commencement notices) and the Residential Property Price Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Records are matched to this application by location and may not be exhaustive; always confirm against the official source before relying on them.
Key dates
Timeline
- Application received25 May 2023
- Decision due19 July 2023
- Decision issued19 July 2023
- Appeal submitted15 August 2023
- Appeal decided31 May 2024
- Permission expiry30 May 2029
In the area
Applications near this site
Other planning applications within about 500 m — what else is being proposed or built nearby.
- GrantedAt this site
Extension of permission for planning ref. 19/196: demolition of the single storey 20th Century WC extension…
6 Pery Square , Limerick.
247011LimerickLodged 17 May 2024Alterations
- GrantedAt this site
Demolition of the single storey 20th Century WC extension alongside Hartstonge Street, the refurbishment of…
6 Pery Square , Limerick.
19196LimerickLodged 6 Mar 2019Alterations
- Granted50 m away
Link corridor to rear of ground floor accommodation and minor alterations to external doors & windows and…
No. 1 Pery Square , Limerick
2052LimerickLodged 27 Jan 2020Retention
- Granted50 m away
Internal alterations to the layout of the single storey link building to Barrington Street, and all…
No. 1 Pery Square , Barrington St. , Limerick.
18847LimerickLodged 24 Aug 2018Alterations
- Granted50 m away
Change of use of ground and first floors from Office use to use as a residential townhouse. Please note that…
11 Pery Square , Limerick
201222LimerickLodged 24 Nov 2020Change of use
- Granted60 m away
The conversion of existing residential building into 4 no. one bedroom apartments (at basement level, at…
'Lissadell House' , 8 Catherine Place , Limerick.
211601LimerickLodged 19 Nov 2021Apartments
- Granted60 m away
The conversion of existing residential house into 8 no. studio apartments (2 no. basement level, 2 no. first…
'Lissadell House' , 8 Catherine Place , Limerick.
191090LimerickLodged 4 Nov 2019Apartments
- Granted60 m away
Demolition of later edition structure to rear and its replacement with a new extension to accommodate…
No. 13 Pery Square , Limerick.
171089LimerickLodged 23 Nov 2017Alterations
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Community
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