REVEALED: First rapid-build modular homes land at Limerick park

PURPOSE-BUILT modular housing units have been erected in the city centre this Tuesday, in a first step of a measure which Mayor John Moran hopes will ease the accommodation crisis locally.

Two units, of different sizes were winched into place with a crane at Arthur’s Quay Park late on Monday night.

It came after Limerick City and County Council publicly advertised of the closure of a lane beside the park in order to facilitate the “crane lift”.

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Limerick Live understands that decking and signage will be added to the structures ahead of their formal commissioning, with the images captured this Tuesday very early-stage.

The two units will be used for demonstration purposes in the city centre park, with feedback from the public used to inform how additional modular homes will be rolled out in Limerick.

As part of his successful election campaign, Mayor Moran had pledged to bring through the so-called Smart homes.

The first citizen is aiming to deliver up to 1,000 of these ‘Smart’ - or short-term modular affordable rental transition housing - units.

It's hoped these homes will provide affordable rental options on temporary sites as ‘meanwhile homes’, bridging the gap until permanent long-term housing solutions become available.

Council has previously said the display will be of "two cutting-edge modular housing prototypes under the concept of Smart Housing at Arthur’s Quay. The prototypes will be unveiled for public viewing."

Mayor Moran has identified a number of publicly-owned lands in order to build these homes upon.

But there has backlash to the proposals in some areas, notably at the Boro Park in Janesboro on the southside of the city.

Land has also been identified at a number of other spots in the city including the Guinness Site, Caledonian Park, O'Malley Park in Southill, Clarina Park in Ballinacurra Weston, Pineview Gardens in Moyross and Mungret.

The two units on show now are different sizes - one is smaller than the other.

One of the units has the bed is in the living quarters.

Lifting the two units into place took around four hours on Monday night.

It’s understood they were manufactured in Poland, having been dreamt up by designers from Co Tyrone.

Limerick City and County Council has been contacted for comment.