Nenagh councillor says town's military barracks would make ideal retirement village

A Tipperary councillor has suggested that a retirement village could be built on a derelict site in Nenagh.

Cllr Seamus Morris made his suggestion following the publication last week of the Land Development Agency’s report into building homes on State-owned lands.

Not one site in Tipperary made it on to the list of options put forward by the agency.

“The former military barracks on Summerhill in Nenagh would be perfect for a retirement village,” said Cllr Morris, referencing the success of the Sue Ryder centre at Stereame on the outskirts of the town.

However, Cllr Morris pointed out that the Department of Defence had yet to complete its full register of title search on the site, something he has been demanding for some time.

With no sites in Tipperary on the LDA list, Cllr Morris said the agency had made the mistake of not including towns with less than a population of 10,000 in their remit.

He further stated that they should have put shovel-ready sites, such as that at Stereame which is owned by Tipperary County Council, ahead of potential sites.

It is understood the council has had a number of expressions of interest in developing housing at Stereame, and is in the process of allowing further time for discussions.