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Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
€2.75m Limerick land sale could deliver up to 70 homes in Corbally
DEVELOPMENT land with the potential to deliver almost 70 homes in a popular Limerick City suburb is on the market, with offers in excess of €2.75m sought. The greenfield site, on the Mill Rd in Corbally, is just over eight hectares (20.3 acres), of which 1.9ha (4.7ac) is zoned 'new residential'. The prescribed residential density, under the current Limerick Development Plan (2022-2028), is for 35+ homes per hectare. The remaining land just over 6ha (15ac) — is zoned for public open space. Last year, development land sold in Lower Park, Corbally, for €485,000 per acre. Savills, the agents handling the Mill Rd sale, said the residential-zoned land has a number of advantages that makes it ideally suited for housing units. 'This includes access to existing services/infrastructure to facilitate an immediate development, as well as a new development access off Mill Rd, which is being provided as part of the council's Part 8 improvements,' said agents James O'Donovan and Peter O'Meara. The council has carried out significant improvements to the neighbourhood road infrastructure since the same site came to market three or four years ago. The land was withdrawn from sale at the time due to concerns about access to the site for development. Since then, the road has been widened, with other improvements. Mr O'Donovan said the residential-zoned land could accommodate 66-68 homes. He said there was 'good interest from lots of parties, including developers,' the last time they brought it to market, and he expects similar this time around. While the land could cater for a housing scheme — subject to planning permission — a developer could also buy it, put in roads and services, and sell off serviced sites. The land, which slopes gradually from east to west, benefits from a new access point and has 105m of frontage to Mill Rd. 'It has direct access to services with a wastewater line, watermain, and ESB line traversing the site and readily available for connection,' the agents said. Mr O'Donovan said they already have offers 'in the region of €2.5m', subject to planning permission, 'but the preference is for an unconditional sale'. The surrounding area is a mix of mature residential estates such as Brookhaven and The Hermitage to the north and mature agricultural landholdings to the west and to the south. Large detached stately homes lie to the west of Mill Rd towards its southern end, among them Roseneath House. The current site sale is of lands that once formed part of the Roseneath House landed estate. The house itself, along with 0.9 acres, is on the market as a separate lot priced at €900,000 (see next Saturday's Property & Home for details). Corbally is regarded as one of the more desirable areas of Limerick City. It's linked to the University of Limerick and the city centre via a riverbank walkway, along the nearby River Shannon. There are a number of primary schools and secondary schools in the area, including St Munchin's College (secondary) and Scoil Íde (primary). Grove Island shopping complex, with large retailers such as Super Valu and Lloyd's Pharmacy, is a mere 750m walk away. Limerick itself has a strong employment base, and continues to attract interest from multinational companies. World ICT leaders such as Dell, Analog Devices, and Intel are based in Limerick, while the life sciences sector is flourishing too, with employers such as Regeneron, Biopharma and Ethicon Biosurgery, along with pharma giants Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer, Stryker and Cook Medical. DETAILS: T: 0214906120 T: 0214906114.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Will planning be granted again for controversial plans for prime Kerry site?
Having been granted planning by councillors earlier this year there was wide-spread condemnation of the plans with anger particularly focused on the planned HSE primary care centre on what is a prime town centre site. The development is to consist of a three-storey Theatre and Community building with a screened rooftop plantroom and a six-storey Primary Care Centre. A Public Plaza and a revised vehicular entrance to Lewis Road carpark is also part of the plans. However, now due to a significant error by the council in the process the plans have now gone out to the public for submissions once again. This also means that once the public given their views, a report will be presented to Killarney councillors, and they will have to vote on whether or not to grant planning for the second time. Following an internal procedural checking process by Kerry County Council, it was found in recent weeks that in four separate instances there were a number of submissions, made through their online public consultation portal, which had not been taken into account during the Part 8 development process. Each of these proposed projects will require to be brought back to the respective Municipal Districts for consideration and this includes the controversial Áras Phádraig plans. The process is now open again for the public to give their views and they can do so until June 4 through the council website. At the time of the original public consultation, only 15 submissions were received, 13 of which were from the public. Some expressed concern about the primary care centre with one submission expressing 'dismay' that the prime site would be given over to this development. Concerns about traffic the HSE primary care centre would draw to the area already described as a 'bottleneck' were also raised by the public. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The Killarney Chamber of Commerce in their submission highlighted this loss of parking but welcomed the theatre saying 'Killarney had been deprived of such a facility for a long time.' The public submissions also focused on the design of the theatre and sought assurances that it would have all the necessary facilities to function as a theatre. Several submissions supported the need for this building for not only performances but visual arts too. Given their was some consternation again much of which was focused on the HSE primary care centre it now remains to be seen whether the public and the councillors will strengthen their opposition to the development of the prime Kerry site.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Kerry County Council apologises as multi-million-euro projects delayed
A number of multi-million-euro projects in Kerry will be delayed as they must go before the public again for comment despite local councillors voting them through just last month. Kerry County Council has apologised for the setback, which will affect a number of projects, including a long-awaited theatre and six storey health services building. An 'internal procedural checking process' carried out by the council uncovered four separate instances where online public submissions had not been considered during the Part 8 development process. The submissions had not been made available to councillors during the voting process in Listowel and in Killarney. The affected projects will have to be readvertised, go before the public again for comment and voted on again by councillors. The projects include €21m plans in Killarney to redevelop the Áras Phádraig site into a theatre and health services building and other town centre works. Councillors recently approved the plans here. However, controversy has been growing because the development of the Lewis Road site will lead to a reduction in car park spaces in a town choked with traffic and chronically short of parking. Questions had also been raised about the appropriateness of giving council -wned land to the HSE for a health services building — when at least three hospitals in Killarney on HSE-owned land will shortly become vacant. Public realm improvements at Kenmare Place and Main Street, Killarney, will also now have to go out for consultation again. Safety improvement works at Abbeydorney Junction will also have to be voted on again. The fourth project impacted is the N22 MD O'Shea Roundabout to Ballycasheen Road Upgrade & L3907 Ballycasheen Road Active Travel Project, in the Killarney Municipal District. However, as this project is still within the statutory time frame, unlike the other three projects, it does not require to be re-advertised. 'An updated report in respect of the project to take account of all submissions received will be required to be considered at the upcoming Killarney Municipal District meeting,' Kerry County Council said in a statement. "Kerry County Council wishes to confirm that a full check of the process in relation to the above developments has been carried out and to apologise for any inconvenience caused." Councillors are unlikely to vote against the Aras Phádraig project; Killarney councillor Niall Botty O'Callaghan said the HSE input, though not ideal, was vital to receive funding of up to €15 million for the redevelopment. A small theatre was much needed, he said, adding:"Killarney can't afford to lose €15 million, and what is to happen to the Aras Phádraig - to lie idle for another 15 to 20 years? ' The project is expected to come before the council again in July. Read More Tourism to Ireland falls by 15% during March continuing a downward trend
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Moira Murrell: County Cork is meeting the challenges of growth head-on
Cork County Council, Ireland's largest local authority by land area and second largest by population, is facing the housing challenges of a growing and diversifying population head-on. Under the National Planning Framework 2018, the county was earmarked for a population increase of 105,000 by 2040 — equivalent to a 30% rise. The council is awaiting new guidance which is expected will outline even more ambitious growth targets for Cork. This builds on a trend of consistent population expansion in Cork since the 1990s. By collaborating with public agencies and private stakeholders, the council is facilitating not just housing delivery but the infrastructure that makes growth viable — jobs, transport, roads, water services, and town regeneration. At the same time, it is working to protect the natural environment and align development with national housing priorities. Cork County Council now delivers more new homes annually than any region outside of the greater Dublin area, and its job growth continues to outpace the national average. Cork County Council is now at the midpoint of the current county development plan, and housing planning permissions are running 12% above target. However, like other counties, the pace of housing delivery is trailing permissions. Encouragingly, 2024 marked a turning point when urban housing commencements surged, matching the combined totals of homes completed in urban areas in 2022, 2023, and 2024. A case in point is Midleton, which accounted for 41% of all urban housing commencements in the county last year. Much of this activity is tied to the Water Rock Urban Expansion Area, a landmark Cork County Council-led interagency project supported by the Government's local infrastructure housing activation fund. Once complete, Water Rock will deliver 2,500 homes, three schools, a new rail station, parks, and a neighbourhood centre, all integrated into sustainable transport networks. Water Rock is one of five designated urban expansion areas, alongside Shannonpark in Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill North, Ballynoe in Cobh, and the Monard strategic development zone. These areas represent the future of housing in Cork and are strategically located, infrastructure-ready, and designed to support complete communities. The council is working towards securing Part 8 approval for critical infrastructure in Carrigtwohill, paving the way for 3,500 new homes served by rail, bus, and greenways. Since 2017, more than 3,400 new social housing units have been delivered in Cork under the national rebuilding Ireland and housing for all strategies. These homes have been built through a blend of direct construction on council-owned land, turnkey developments, and joint ventures with approved housing bodies. New social housing schemes have been completed across every major town — from Youghal and Carrigaline to Skibbereen and Mallow — and in many smaller settlements. One example is the Convent Rd scheme in Doneraile, where 17 high-quality homes ranging from one-bedroom to four-bedroom units were built on council-owned land. Two recent turnkey social developments include Mountain View and Nead Na Lachan — a development of 14 A2-rated houses. Housing delivery is not just about numbers, it is also about place-making. Cork County Council is aligning new home construction with town centre regeneration. In Macroom, two long-vacant sites at Sleaveen East are being brought back to life. Eight apartments have already been completed, and work is under way on four townhouses and 12 more apartments. Similar regeneration-led projects are active in Bantry, Charleville, Midleton, and Youghal. The regeneration of the former Mercy Convent in Bantry is an example of what is possible through partnership. In collaboration with Clúid Housing, 18 homes for older residents were delivered alongside the preservation of the convent's historic chapel. Funded through the Department of Housing's capital assistance scheme, this project is an example of sensitive, inclusive development that meets today's needs while respecting yesterday's heritage. Beyond new builds, Cork County Council is also making the most of existing stock. In 2024, 864 social tenancies were created across Cork through the refurbishment and re-letting of homes. Since 2022, 240 affordable homes have been offered for sale in locations such as Carrigaline, Cobh and Mallow. Of these, 160 have been sold and the remainder are under offer. Cork County Council aims to considerably accelerate the level of affordable housing provision over the lifetime of the housing for all strategy until 2030. Energy efficiency is also a key pillar of our housing strategy, and Cork County Council is aiming to retrofit up to 200 houses annually. Over 400 council-owned dwellings have been retrofitted to achieve a B2 BER in the past two years, cutting energy bills while contributing to Ireland's climate goals. Under the Croí Cónaithe vacant homes refurbishment grant, homeowners can access up to €70,000 to transform vacant properties into permanent homes. Cork County Council has received more than 1,000 applications, with nearly 800 already approved, a clear sign of community appetite to revive and reuse existing buildings. Cork County Council recognises that housing is the biggest challenge facing Ireland. The council is committed to driving and supporting housing delivery across a range of measures, working with national Government and local partners to meet the growing demand. Moira Murrell is the CEO of Cork County Council Read More Huge demand expected for affordable homes in Midleton as applications open
