Planning authority throw out housing appeal from Irish Cement

A PLANNING appeal from Irish Cement over the construction of houses on its doorstep in Mungret has been thrown out.

An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly An Bord Pleanala has ruled the building of 139 homes along the N69 can proceed.

Irish Cement had challenged a council decision to grant permission to developers Tergnum Properties, arguing any further housing on the land could “inhibit” its own expansion.

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But in a ruling, the national planning appeals body has backed up Limerick City and County Council’s decision to allow permission.

Irish Cement, which employs more than 100 people in Mungret, has, in recent years, fought a protracted battle with local residents over its plans to switch away from fossil fuel in favour of solid recovered waste for its production of the building material, ultimately securing permission for this in 2021.

In its submissions on this housing project, the company’s agents indicated permission will be sought for its own expansion plan in future, which could take its factory just 40m from the rear wall of some of the proposed houses.

“Given the proximity of the proposed residential units to ICL’s (Irish Cement Limerick) site there is the potential for complaints and objections from any future residents to planning applications made by ICL, which could inhibit any future development,” it stated.