'Spurious' objections and 'nimbyism' over Limerick student halls plan criticised
METROPOLITAN councillors have largely backed plans for a €30m student hall complex – with two criticising “spurious” objections and “nimbyism”.
Cloncarragh Developments is planning to construct 30 build-to-rent apartments and 326 student bed spaces at the site of the old Dan Ryan garage opposite Punch’s Cross.
The firm secured permission from An Bord Pleanala for the project under fast-track planning legislation.
But following an appeal to the High Court by Environmental Trust Ireland, a judge quashed this decision.
This was on the basis of the fact the planning board did not circulate the lobby group’s objection in a timely manner.
With Cloncarragh opting to resubmit its application, the process moved back to square one, and councillors were asked to meet for a second time to give their views on the project which will then form part of a report to An Bord Pleanala.
The national appeals body has indicated it will then make a decision by the start of March.
At a special meeting to discuss the plan, senior planner Nuala O’Connell said council is minded to support the scheme, and pointed out a survey which showed a shortfall of 2,000 student beds across Limerick – a point also backed up by many councillors.
She outlined the submissions made on the plan – which include environmental concerns, and the size and scale of the project.
But Ms O’Connell said council is satisfied it meets the required standard, saying the only recommendation they would make is that a planned take-away be subject to a separate planning application.
Labour councillor Joe Leddin said: “I do feel some of the submissions that have been made are quite spurious in terms of potential bird collisions. A lot of us have had the opportunity to travel extensively, and I don’t see any issue with the skyscrapers and the birds in New York having a problem. Birds like the rest of us have two eyes, they don’t fly into buildings.”
Green Party councillor Sean Hartigan, who has a background in ecology and biodiversity said: “There are no reasons, environmental or otherwise, why we should not fully support this development.”
Councillor Conor Sheehan, Labour added: “I’ve had students onto me who are considering pitching tents, sleeping in tents, commuting three and four hours. It’s unfortunate that we are here again. There is far too much in the planning system which is being decided by the courts.”
He went on: “It’s important infrastructural projects aren’t being held to ransom for spurious reasons. We have well over 11,000 people homeless. There’s far too much nimbyism which goes in with this sort of stuff.”
Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan said: “We need to put in critical infrastructure in our city, but it must be done in the right way.”
She pointed out she had expressed concern to council that local residents had struggled to upload submissions on the project to An Bord Pleanala web site.
“This plan was rejected for the very first time due to the impact it was going to have on a special area of conservation of the river Shannon. So it greatly concerns me that we are being told it is now below the threshold for an environmental impact assessment when the very reason it was rejected in the first place was due to an environmental concern,” she said.