Limerick set for transformation with €250m plan

A new city will rise from Limerick city centre under an ambitious €250 million plan aimed at guiding the regeneration of the wider midwest region.

The plan, Limerick 2030 – An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick, establishes several objectives to change the infrastructure of the city centre and aims to deliver 5,000 jobs over the next 17 years.

The plan was unveiled yesterday by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan.

It includes proposals for a “world-class” waterfront, the major redevelopment of Arthur’s Quay to create a new plaza in the heart of the city and a modern building overlooking the river Shannon at Sarsfield Bridge.

It also includes plans for the transformation of three of the city’s main thoroughfares, the restoration of the Georgian Quarter and a major public transport interchange at Colbert Station.

The city’s three main third-level institutions – Limerick Institute of Technology, University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College – have also agreed to establish a city centre higher education campus in an area once earmarked for the Opera Centre development.

Key economic drivers
The proposal is part of a more comprehensive €750 million Limerick project to harness the potential of the key economic drivers in the region, including Shannon Airport and port facilities along the Shannon estuary.

Limerick city and county councils manager Conn Murray described the development as as “a once-in-a-generation plan to guide the economic, social and physical renaissance of Limerick city centre, the wider county and midwest region.”

The development was spearheaded by Denis Brosnan, who was appointed chairman of the midwest taskforce following the closure of Dell’s manufacturing facility and the loss of more than 2,000 jobs. Limerick has “changed forever”, he said.

'New city will be built'
"I think the best thing about Limerick at the moment is that the city centre is in horrible decay and that the Opera Centre has been bought back, because with a few more buildings that should be bought back or demolished Limerick in fact can build a new city centre," he said. "It will be the only urban entity in Ireland where we can actually start from scratch . . . where a new city will be built. We haven't done so in this country for hundreds of years."

Mr Noonan said all successful regions have a successful city at the core and the new Limerick city should be seen as another driver of economic growth for the region.

“This plan is going to differ from a lot of other plans we had in the past.

"It won't even reach the shelf where the dust gathers. We are already implementing the plan and we will continue to do so," said Mr Noonan, a Fine Gael TD for Limerick city.

Ms O'Sullivan is Labour TD for Limerick city and described the plan as marking a pivotal time in the city's history. She said it had the capacity to transform the region and create up to 12,000 jobs.