An Bord Pleanála has approved the conversion of a former supermarket in Limerick city centre for a new campus for the University of Limerick against the advice of its own planning inspector.
UL has secured planning permission for the change of use of the former Dunnes Stores outlet on Sarsfield Street, Limerick to become the centre for its new City Campus.
The purchase of the former supermarket by the university for €8.3 million in 2019 was the subject of a highly critical report by the Comptroller & Auditor General last week which revealed UL had sought no formal valuation of the site prior to its purchase.
The C&AG said another suitable location for the campus at the nearby Opera quarter was available for an estimated €3 million, while independent valuers concluded in 2023 that UL had paid around a third more than the market value of the property at the time.
The public spending watchdog calculated that the university had overspent more than €3 million on all related costs of the project with the level of expenditure neither warranted nor representing value for money.
In its ruling, An Bord Pleanála upheld the decision of Limerick City and County Council to approve the change of use of the former supermarket for the new university campus.
The board rejected two separate appeals against the council’s decision and also ignored the recommendation of its own planning inspector that planning permission should be refused.
It claimed the change of use of the former supermarket to provide educational facilities would not militate against or prejudice objectives of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 in relation to the establishment of UL’s City Campus.
The specific objectives include the development of a landmark tall building on the site and high-quality student accommodation, as well as green infrastructure and high-quality public realm.
The board’s planning inspector had concluded that the proposal “strictly speaking” did not comply with the objectives contained in the Limerick Development Plan.
One of the objectors claimed the proposed change of use also failed to meet the objective of developing a landmark building on the site incorporating high quality student accommodation.
Another appellant claimed UL should have applied for retention permission rather than a change of use as it had already started teaching classes in a portion of the building before the planning application had been lodged.
The same individual also complained about a mural that had been painted on the building and adjacent footpath.
In reply, UL said the development of the site would take time, but it was working towards providing a landmark building that would enrich the local public realm.
It stressed that the change of use of the former Dunnes Stores building was “a staged approach” to the final redevelopment of the site.
The university also pointed out that it had a contract with Limerick City and County Council over the use of some space in the building, while the mural was done in partnership with the local authority.
UL said no concerns about flooding of the site had been raised by the council, while no student accommodation was being proposed in the building.
The former supermarket, which covers an area of 5,618m², is due to house the university’s City Campus and bring together its law, business and entrepreneurship in technology disciplines.
Subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions, An Bord Pleanála said the proposed development would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
