Development plan · Limerick City and County Council
Limerick Development Plan 2022–2028 (as varied)
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Limerick City and County Council · 2022–2028 · 414 pages
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- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy69 Over €1 billion is being invested in enterprise and investment infrastructure as part of the Limerick 2030 vision, which aims to transform Limerick through economic, social and physical investment. The revitalisation and densification of Limerick City Centre is identified as a key objective of the National Planning Framework, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan. The MASP supports initiatives including the development of Opera Square, Cleeves Riverside Quarter, Mungret College lands and the proposed World Class Waterfront project, which will link strategic brownfield sites and enhance the amenity and attractiveness of Limerick’s waterfront. 3.4.3.2 Living Limerick City Centre Initiative The Living Limerick City Centre Initiative (LLCC Initiative) was awarded funding in 2021 under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund. The LLCC Initiative seeks to make positive, innovative and transformational change to revitalise the centre of Limerick City. The regeneration of the City Centre is identified as a growth enabler under the NPF. The Initiative is a 7-year programme focused on targeted interventions to: •• Renew vacant and underutilised building stock by embedding emerging economic and employment opportunities in derelict buildings; •• Lead the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient City, deliver compact growth, strengthen the economy through the development of innovation and enhance existing public amenity and heritage; •• Transform the public realm of the City through a targeted programme of renewal that will increase footfall and support the development of the emerging economic, employment and residential models. These interventions are underpinned by the integration of innovative and proactive collaboration practices from the outset, which include not just public organisations but private companies, communities of interest and the wider population. Together these interventions aim to develop a City that is more resilient to economic and environmental events. The interventions are briefly outlined below: 1. The Living Georgian City Programme supports two key pathfinder projects demonstrating new residential living in the City Centre in two vacant historic properties in Limerick City and County Council ownership. These developments are delivered by a Revolving Fund managed by a structured Governance model overseeing Investment Modelling and Feasibility for differing forms of housing provision and groups. A Smart Design Code is also to be developed recording the methodologies used in the restoration. 2. The Digital Innovation Cluster will develop a block within the City Centre to attract new companies, start-ups, accelerators and other related entities, creating a dense cluster of innovators and entrepreneurs to enable rapid innovation in the region. The cluster will offer niche features enabling the growth of the film and creative arts sectors. The project will develop two current vacant building (No.s 29 and 30 Cecil Street) and will incorporate the existing Engine building and Digital Collaboration. The proposal comprises development of a new 6-storey building and the refurbishment of the Theatre Royal building into a Film School and City Cinema. The project includes the creation of a Citizen Observatory to act as an access point for communitybased collaboration, data gathering and analysis. The Digital Innovation Cluster will be connected to the existing Mid-West E-hub network to drive employment and job creation in towns and villages of the Mid-West. 3. The Futureproofing Place Programme reimagines the logic of the grid of streets and the supporting laneways of the City Centre. This element will support the vision in the Draft Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS) by reinforcing the physical spine of the City Centre
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202870 to achieve compact growth. This programme will accommodate new mobility and energy services, future data infrastructure and enabling rapid problem solving of liveability and business issues in the City Centre, together with the users of these spaces. A critical element of this is to animate the streets with installations, events, markets, etc. while demonstrating the new Limerick brand. 4. The Citizen Collaboration Programme is the first of three programmes of work that are elevated by their integration with each other and by being supported by the Innovation ecosystem, established as part of the +CityxChange programme of works in three cross cutting activities: •• Liveable Limerick City Centre Strategic Framework: A review and update of the Limerick 2030 strategy will align existing strategies to address the complex needs of the City, including a local liveability and urban condition survey; •• City Animation Partnerships: The development of new programmes and partnerships with all stakeholders to support the social, cultural and economic viability of the City Centre specifically: •• A canopy on Cruises Street and potentially adjoining streets; •• The installation of public infrastructure to support public events; •• Lighting of signature buildings; •• A digital retail and business strategy to support the digital transition with a specific emphasis on supporting the food strategy through the development of a City Centre food hub; •• Citizen Solutions Programme: The development of an active programme of citizen led solutions targeted at liveability issues in the City Centre. 3.4.3.3 Limerick Laneways Project The Limerick Laneways Project is part of the wider Living Limerick City Centre Initiative. This project will develop a strategy to guide the repurposing of twenty-five laneways in the City Centre, through examining issues such as movement, planting, lighting and refuse. The strategy will initially include detailed design proposals for seven laneways. The laneways are an important asset to the City that provides not just alternative routes through the City Centre, but are also capable of providing important recreational and amenity space, as well as supporting new development in the curtilages of older buildings. The strategy will complement a number of other initiatives such as LSMATS, the Wayfinding Strategy and other public realm initiatives. Objective LL O1 Limerick Laneways It is an objective of the Council to: a) Promote reuse of vacant buildings and support existing uses within the City Centre. b) Improve connections and maintain linkages within and through the City Centre. c) Promote high design quality and improve the public realm. 3.4.3.4 Opera Square The Opera Square development represents Limerick 2030’s principle response to transform the social and economic profile of Limerick City Centre and stimulate growth that will benefit not just its immediate environs but also the entire Mid-West Region. Opera Square, under construction on a 1.62ha. site zoned City Centre, will be a landmark commercial development reflecting Limerick’s status as a leading destination for inward investment. Works have commenced on the development which will be a LEED Gold and nZEB standard Campus, consisting primarily of commercial offices supported by a range of retail and non-retail services, an Apart Hotel and new City Library in the historic Georgian Town Hall. The
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy71 development will extend to over 555,000 sq. ft. of accommodation with over 5,800m2 of public realm and high-quality streetscapes. The campus will provide a day-time employment hub, transforming into a bustling night-time destination complete with restaurants, bars and open entertainment spaces. The design will also be entirely complementary to and protect important Georgian architecture on the site. Opera Square will be a key driver for increased economic activity in the City Centre, delivering significant employment opportunities on brownfield lands while acting as a catalyst for other major City Centre investments. 3.4.3.5 World Class Waterfront The World Class Waterfront development is a key revitalisation and transformation project under the Limerick 2030 Plan. The World Class Waterfront project comprises three elements – the Riverside Infrastructural Works, Cleeves Riverside Quarter and the University of Limerick City Campus. The project focuses on mixed-use brownfield regeneration, adaptive re-use and reversal of vacancy and dereliction in Limerick City Centre. The World Class Waterfront project will deliver on the NPF objectives of compact growth, sustainable mobility and placemaking/public realm, which has the potential to make a transformational difference to Limerick City. In combination, the three elements of the project will facilitate an increase in the population residing and working in the City Centre, thus enhancing critical mass and footfall and the City’s retail, hospitality and service sectors. In addition, the project will create cross-cutting benefits for the City Centre in terms of an increase in the viability of land and infrastructure, enhancement of the City’s natural and built heritage, as well as contributing to Limerick’s unique riverside skyline. The project will provide health and well-being benefits though the inclusion of green infrastructure which itself will create improved air quality, reduced heat stress and lower storm runoff rates through the inclusion of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS). 1. The design and development of the Riverside Infrastructural Works’ public realm and sustainable travel links proposed on the waterfront is being progressed in conjunction with the Office of Public Works’ Flood Relief Scheme for the City Centre as part of the Shannon CFRAM programme. The Limerick 2030 Plan recognises that the City’s quays represent a principal asset. The plan advocates their reinvention as the main entertainment and leisure destination for the City. This element will provide a cohesive linear link to other revitalisation sites being progressed under the Limerick 2030 Plan as outlined above. The World-class Waterfront Riverside Infrastructural Works include: •• Public realm works along the quayside from Limerick Docks to the south along the central Quays to Merchant’s Quay, King John’s Castle and George’s Quay and returning along the north bank of the River Shannon; •• Proposed walkways/cycleways and pedestrian bridges, one of which will cross the Shannon and three smaller bridges that will span the Abbey River; •• Re-alignment of the public road at Arthur’s Quay and Honan’s Quay to facilitate a comprehensive redevelopment project at Arthur’s Quay including a new riverside park and public square. 2. The Cleeves Riverside Quarter is proposed at the former Cleeves factory site near O’Callaghan Strand in Limerick City. The property is a brownfield site zoned City Centre and will be regenerated by Limerick Twenty Thirty. The iconic 10-acre former Cleeves factory site is located on the northern banks of the River Shannon. The site is
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202872 divided into two sections which straddle both sides of the North Circular Road / O’Callaghan Strand. The potential of the Cleeves site is recognised by Limerick 2030, with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region also identifying it as a key strategic site. A Masterplan is currently being prepared for the Cleeves Riverside Quarter, which includes the adjacent Salesian’s Secondary School as well as St. Michael’s Rowing Club on the bank of the Shannon. The development will include conservation and adaptive re-use of a number of protected structures and other historic buildings. The site will provide public spaces and is likely to benefit from improved connectivity via a pedestrian bridge to be constructed across the River Shannon by Limerick City and County Council. This new bridge will connect the Cleeves Riverside Quarter on the Western side, to the core City Centre and Georgian Neighbourhood on the Eastern side of the river. The project will deliver City Centre living and employment creation opportunities, while addressing the economic and social dereliction of this area of the City through large-scale revitalisation. Objective CRQ O1 Cleeves Riverside Quarter It is an objective of the Council to ensure that the following are addressed in any redevelopment: a) Implement a high-quality urban design solution with a mix of uses, including residential, commercial, tourism/ancillary retail and amenities connecting to the City core. b) Respond to the site context to generate a sustainable solution that creates a distinct riverside quarter, respecting the significant historic buildings, enabling the potential for greater height and density, while creating a landmark City gateway. c) Investigate, assess and integrate the historic buildings and industrial heritage of significance, protect key features of historical merit and implement conservation principles to assist in the appropriate management of protected structures, in a manner that facilitates the practical regeneration and reuse of the site. d) Enhance permeability of the public realm by removing and/or decreasing the effects of existing barriers to and within the site, through initiatives including: •• Public access, walking and cycling networks; •• Enhanced streetscape and legibility; •• Removal of section(s) of the existing Cleeves wall; and •• Improving road and traffic circulation. e) Enhance the legibility of the natural and built environment and landscape and connections between place and space, whilst ensuring delivery of a high-quality public realm that relates and links to the City core and the River Shannon. f) Identify and enhance natural heritage areas and features, particularly where opportunities exist to improve biodiversity and provide for quality public realm. g) Support sustainable modes of transport and use of the public realm. h) Facilitate a holistically sustainable and low carbon development that is energy efficient and future proofed for a changing climate. i) Promote a site-specific approach, reflecting emerging best practice, in addressing flood risk and in the adaptation of protected structures and buildings of significance. 3. The University of Limerick City Campus is proposed at the former Dunnes Stores site (0.4ha.) at Sarsfield Bridge zoned City Centre. The UL campus development on this central brownfield site will include two linked buildings comprising a university teaching building and a student accommodation residence. The project will support the delivery of a number of objectives as outlined in the University of Limerick’s
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy73 Strategic Plan UL@50. The proposal also directly links to the NPF growth enablers for Limerick through the implementation of the Limerick 2030 strategy, the revitalisation of a key brownfield City Centre site and the expansion of the third level institute. The project will deliver an educational, economic and social footprint, which will stimulate the transformation of industry, commerce, housing and amenity in the core of the City Centre. Objective ULCC O1 UL City Campus It is an objective of the Council to: a) Facilitate and support the establishment of the UL Limerick City Campus at the former Dunnes Stores site at the junction of Sarsfield Bridge and Honan’s Quay. b) Deliver an education campus with considerable capacity for high quality student accommodation and ancillary uses. c) Develop a landmark tall building on this gateway site in accordance with the provisions of the Building Height Strategy. d) Ensure the highest quality design of the public realm. e) Ensure the provision of green infrastructure is a key component of the design and layout including connections to existing green infrastructure assets. f) Ensure open spaces, where proposed, are positioned to provide passive and active surveillance. g) Incorporate pedestrian and cycling connectivity and facilities. 3.4.3.6 Arthur’s Quay Arthur’s Quay encompasses the Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre, the surrounding streets, Arthur’s Quay Park, Sarsfield House and the Debenham’s/ Roches Stores site all zoned City Centre. These areas have the potential to form a single consolidation site with significant potential for transformational benefits to the centre of the city, subject to the preparation of a Framework Plan. Such a Framework Plan may consider the potential for inclusion of the adjoining UL City Campus site as outlined further above. The Framework Plan shall be supported by a survey of the existing area together with an options analysis. Under the Limerick 2030 Plan, Arthur’s Quay will be transformed through major redevelopment of the existing Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre and adjoining lands, to provide a new mixed-use retail, residential, leisure and office development. A new City Square will be created connecting across O’Connell Street to Cruises Street. The Retail Strategy envisages that the redevelopment of Arthur’s Quay will secure the City’s role as a premier retail destination, increasing visitors, footfall and spin off benefits for restaurants, hotels, tourism and culture destinations. Objective AQ O1 Arthur’s Quay It is an objective of the Council to: a) Facilitate creation of a mixed-use retail, residential, leisure and office development, including a new retail development to replace the Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre and expand onto a series of new blocks addressing Arthur’s Quay Park, with a retail anchor and a range of other shop units/bars and restaurants fronting onto a new City Square. b) Create a more pedestrian focused character and active uses that engages with the public realm along the River. c) Ensure the highest quality of landmark design and public realm with active facades and entrances creating frontage to the Waterfront. d) Facilitate renovation of the Penneys and Debenhams Stores sites, including redevelopment of the underutilised and brownfield lands to the rear of the Penneys store. e) Ensure delivery and service arrangements are updated to minimise impact on the public realm, particularly during daytime and evening hours.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202874 3.4.3.7 Ellen Street Limerick City and County Council acknowledges the potential opportunity for the development of surface car parks throughout the City Centre. In particular, the Council notes the potential opportunity for development of a large brownfield site located on Ellen Street, which is currently utilised as a surface car park. The brownfield site zoned City Centre is located in a prime City Centre location, opposite Opera Square. Development of these underutilised lands would contribute to the overall revitalisation of this area of the City, which has suffered from dereliction and decline over recent years. Development of this site would facilitate improvements to the visual amenities of Ellen Street, which is a key tourist route linking O’Connell Street to the Milk Market. Objective ES O1 Ellen Street Car Park It is an objective of the Council to: a) Facilitate the creation of a mixeduse City Centre development incorporating employment and residential opportunities. b) Enhance the character of the area through the highest quality urban design and public realm. c) Ensure integration of connectivity to surrounding streets. d) Ensure the provision of green infrastructure is a key component of the design and layout. e) Ensure open spaces, where proposed, are positioned to provide passive and active surveillance. 3.4.3.8 Mungret Framework The Limerick Shannon MASP recognises the potential for sustainable residential development in Mungret. Funding has been secured through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to deliver a link street, which will unlock substantial lands within public and private ownership and allow construction of residential development supported by community and employment uses. This opportunity area has the potential to deliver approximately 1,950 dwelling units. A number of housing developments have recently been granted planning permission in this area. The first phase will deliver approximately 250 dwelling units. All dwellings will be located within 100m of a pocket park and 400m of a small park. Two new primary school campuses (Educate Together and Gaelscoil An Raithin) have been constructed on the lands, while a third campus has been reserved for a new secondary school. In addition, a Neighbourhood Park of 11ha. including a fully equipped inclusive playground and walking track has already been completed. The pedestrian connection between these facilities and Mungret Village has undergone public realm improvements along the R859 and in Mungret Village. Additional cycle facilities have also been introduced on the R859. The framework will accommodate bus services on the link streets, which will link into existing bus routes in the wider area. These measures, in addition to delivering a more connected network of walking routes that can enable people to walk to and from destinations within the neighbourhood and wider area are essential to create a shift away from use of the car and facilitate a more sustainable form of development. Objective MF O1 below sets out the framework for development in Mungret. The framework will facilitate the creation of a vibrant neighbourhood that accommodates and encourages a variety of uses that nurtures a strong sense of community. The framework seeks to ensure that the new neighbourhood at Mungret is a place that is safe, with people friendly streets and spaces that relates well to its surroundings, including Mungret Village and the adjacent neighbourhoods of Dooradoyle and Raheen. The framework is set out in the map below. The framework will have cognisance of the environmental and historical assets in the area including Loughmore Common proposed Natural Heritage Area and the Mungret Monastic Complex.
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy75 Objective MF O1 Mungret Framework It is an objective of the Council to: a) Deliver an exemplar new neighbourhood with a clear identity and character that responds to the natural and historic environment and provides a great place to live. b) Deliver a green neighbourhood that encourages healthy lifestyles, offering easy and safe access to amenities and opportunity for play, recreation and learning. c) Create a strong and legible structure that leads people to a mixed-use centre at Mungret College, integrates the site with the wider area and strengthens existing centres. d) Grow the existing community hub at Mungret College so that it forms a heart for the new neighbourhood and is accessible to all residents. e) Protect and celebrate the site’s historic assets including the College, Mungret Abbey and medieval ringforts. f) Embrace the wider landscape and create a green framework across the site that retains the site’s green assets and enhances biodiversity. g) Create a walkable and cycle friendly neighbourhood that provides easy access to schools and amenities through a safe and attractive network of streets and paths. h) Create a legible network of streets defined by new buildings and laid out as part of a clear hierarchy. i) Incorporate bus routes through the heart of the neighbourhood, reducing the need to travel by car. j) Provide a mix of dwelling sizes and types of the highest quality design, materials and energy efficiency, that give the opportunity for every stage of the life cycle and to up or downsize within the neighbourhood. k) Residential development shall be designed to create a streetscape along the main spine roads, with properties fronting onto the road where appropriate. l) Higher density development e.g. apartment blocks are encouraged along the LIHAF Road and at the corner of street blocks in particular.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202876 Map 3.8: Mungret Framework Plan
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy77 3.4.4 Land Development Agency Under Project Ireland 2040, the Land Development Agency (LDA) is tasked with building 150,000 new homes over the next 20 years. The LDA has a focus on managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the long term, the LDA will assemble strategic land banks from a mix of public and private owned lands, making these available for housing in a controlled manner, which will bring essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market. In Limerick, the LDA is responsible for overseeing the development of the Colbert Quarter area and a number of additional strategic sites in the City. Objective LDA O1 Land Development Agency It is an objective of the Council to support and work with the Land Development Agency in the planning, co-ordination and development of large-scale and strategic land banks, particularly lands in state ownership, in order to achieve compact growth, sustainable development and economic and physical revitalisation. 3.4.4.1 Colbert Quarter The Land Development Agency is preparing plans for the development of the proposed Colbert Quarter area. The Colbert Quarter Spatial Framework Strategy 2021 – 2041, which is currently being prepared, will aim to develop a 69ha. brownfield site zoned City Centre, surrounding Colbert Station including the railway and bus stations, St. Joseph’s Hospital Campus, recreational lands and lands in private ownership. The redevelopment of the lands is being led by the LDA along with other State Bodies including Limerick City and County Council, CIE and the HSE. The Colbert Quarter site has the capacity for the development of a walkable neighbourhood of new homes for 6,300 people, employment, education, health, transport and leisure facilities, with a connected public realm and high-quality architectural design to characterise and punctuate the area. The new quarter will be compact, dense and sustainable, based around an important regional and national transport hub. The Colbert Quarter provides an opportunity to create a model for potential future urban revitalisation in Limerick and other cities. The potential for designation of the Colbert Station Quarter as an Urban Development Zone in accordance with the Housing For All Strategy is recognised and supported by the Local Authority. The strategy for the Colbert Quarter will analyse the land banks, set out a vision for redevelopment and the actions necessary for a coherent and integrated redevelopment to be facilitated. The Framework Strategy will be used to guide the future development of the area. Objective CSQ O1a Colbert Quarter It is an objective of the Council to: a) Create a vibrant and sustainable new urban quarter with work, living and recreational opportunities, based around high-quality public transport nodes. b) Create a place with distinctive urban character, based on urban design principles with strong linkages to the City core. c) Provide for sufficient densities to sustain public transport and a viable mix of uses. d) Provide for an integrated sustainable mobility network, with walking, cycling and public transport as the main components. e) Provide for the integration of new and established communities. f) Provide for a balanced mix of residential tenure. g) Enhance the new identity of the area by providing for buildings of City, gateway and landmark design and heights, which act as placemarkers, signifiers and location finding identifiers. (Refer to Volume 6: Building Height Strategy). h) Provide for a mix of residential, employment and leisure uses in the area and ensure that the key historic and existing deficits with regard to access, layout and movement are addressed in any redevelopment.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202878 Objective CSQ O1b Colbert Quarter It is an objective of the Council to support the implementation of the Colbert Quarter Spatial Framework along with its principles, which include the creation of 8 distinctive Neighbourhoods which form the Colbert Quarter as follows: a) Station District – The Colbert Station area is a key transport hub surrounded by the Colbert Plaza. There is potential to enclose and intensify the area, to optimise and enhance its functionality as a gateway and key sustainable travel hub. The district has the potential to provide for new Civic/ community uses, workplaces, new homes, hotel and leisure uses, the starting point for the Limerick Link and landmark buildings all around the plaza and station. b) Sexton District – The Sexton District’s character builds upon the existing education uses, allowing for expansion and infill to suit future demands. Other proposed uses could include higher education, student homes and workplaces, together with new high quality public realm, rail crossing points and links between Parnell Street and Roxboro Road. c) Roxboro District –The Roxboro District contains existing healthcare and community uses, the chapel and other hospital protected structures. The district has the potential to develop as a new sustainable neighbourhood comprising new homes including age friendly homes, enhanced accessibility, and community space for this district. d) Ballysimon District – This district incorporates proposed development plots to address HSE priorities with flexibility for review, adaptation and expansion depending on future needs and priorities. Proposals seek to enhance accessibility and the public realm around the buildings and site and provide for research and innovation space. e) Careys District – The Carey’s District has the potential to provide a highquality urban living environment with access to expansive green spaces and local services, amenities and public realm. There is the opportunity to integrate the proposed reinstated Foynes Line to create a retail/leisure destination in the heart of the district and to utilise and activate the railway infrastructure to ensure vibrancy and safety and to create better connections across the railway line. The area has significant potential to provide a new mixed tenure residential neighbourhood. f) Caledonian District – The Caledonian District can provide a high quality and varied residential neighbourhood with well-integrated pedestrian and cycling routes with access to generous green spaces and public park. There is an opportunity to create a civic heart with the provision of a new Central Park and the People’s Pavilion. New primary and nursery school uses are integrated into the surrounding neighbourhood to support existing and new families. g) Kennedy District – The Kennedy District is currently an operational bus depot with plans for further expansion. However, further to additional future study, the area has the potential to become an exciting and creative district, with community and recreation uses paired with creative and light industrial industries, which could inform a creative character that integrates with the bus depot use. Taller buildings aligned with or constructed over existing operational uses, could be a draw for light industrial/ creative uses. h) Janesboro District – The Janesboro District has the potential to become a vibrant sport and activity zone through enhancing and aligning recreational facilities and with the existing clubs as the anchors for the area. The addition of a municipal hall with cafe could provide much needed recreational facilities for the wider community.
Source Limerick City and County Council: Limerick Development Plan 2022–2028 (as varied) (2022–2028) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.