Limerick mayor refuses to remove Boro Park from housing plan
Local residents continue to oppose the decision, citing a lack of clarity
THE Mayor of Limerick has refused to remove any area from the list for SMART Housing at this stage of the process, despite strong opposition from residents in Janesboro.
The Boro Park residents and Cllr Sarah Kiely are opposing plans to build modular SMART Housing in Boro Park, raising concerns about clarity and “the route to planning”.
The Short-term Modular Affordable Rental Transition (SMART) Housing programme seeks to fast-track the delivery of new homes on council-owned lands designated for residential use under its land use zoning objectives as democratically adopted in the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028. SMART Housing is being advanced and the initial locations are all council-owned lands that are already zoned for residential development.
In response to a question from Cllr Sarah Kiely at a meeting of Limerick City and County Council last Monday, Mayor of Limerick, John Moran said he anticipates that the proposed sites will proceed via Part 8 or Part 10. “A final planning consent strategy will be determined on a case by case basis and is subject to final determination once feasibility and detailed design is concluded. This work will be progressed by the Design Teams once appointed in the next two weeks.”
Mayor Moran commented that the delivery of housing in Limerick is “woefully behind” what is needed but that SMART housing has been welcomed by the government. He added that he didn't think it would be a wise idea to rule out any particular site, including Boro Park.
“A lot of talk goes into the fact that we need housing that's affordable for purchase and indeed housing seems to be equated with multi-bedroom housing, the stats show... that some 55,000 people needing housing in Limerick are likely to only need one bedroom and so we have to have a proper mix of houses and this is an alternative way of doing it.”
Mayor Moran explained that the housing programme is being developed as an additional housing capital delivery programme to respond to urgent housing needs and to test approaches that can deliver high-quality, affordable homes at greater scale and speed. “This is in accordance with the objectives under the Programme for Government and Housing for All. Other programmes are nonetheless continuing apace, especially those focused on units for larger households and for affordable purchase.
“The need for an additional innovation, especially in the rental sector, is seen in the huge increase in rental costs in the Limerick area caused by the wide gap between prior annual overall housing delivery totals across public and private sectors of some 800-1000 units against an annual demand need of 2,500-4,000 units,” the Mayor added.
“It is important to build greater public confidence and local support that a much more significant step-up in delivery than seen in previous years can now be achieved in Limerick to make housing costs more affordable for all... We welcome continued dialogue as the programme progresses and will keep members and communities fully informed throughout.”
Cllr Kiely said Mayor Moran's response lacked clarity on the route to planning. “The question is, is it going to be part 8? If not, what is the route to planning?”
She referenced that the Mayor met with Moyross partners for consultation and said this didn't appear in his answer. “I am now formally requesting on behalf of my community, you remove the Boro Park from the list of proposed sites. There has already been significant money spent on this amenity and it has huge value to the community,” expressed Cllr Kiely. “I need that commitment today. I was given a commitment that it would be removed before it went public at the SPC.”
Cllr Kiely continued to explain that it was expressed that the Boro field and some of those other sites were not suitable. “We were told they would be noted and more consultation would take place,” she said.
Mayor Moran previously identified 10 sites across the city which he would like to see temporary housing on, including Boro Park.