Limerick City, 11 May 2026: Limerick Chamber has today backed An Taisce Limerick’s call for greater clarity on the future of Limerick city centre, saying that the questions raised reflect a wider and growing concern amongst the business community around delivery, housing supply, transport certainty, and the availability of scalable land for new homes close to the city.
Responding to An Taisce Limerick’s recent statement, Limerick Chamber said the intervention was timely and constructive, particularly in highlighting the need for a stronger city centre population, greater transparency on major public projects, and a clearer pipeline for residential delivery in and around the urban core. An Taisce’s statement pointed to the importance of city centre homes in supporting footfall, safety, vibrancy and local businesses, a focus the Chamber agrees with.
The Chamber said the discussion must now move beyond individual landmark sites and focus on the wider city centre delivery agenda, including Council-led regeneration projects, public realm improvements, the Land Development Agency’s work at the Gasworks and Colbert Station, the long-delayed City Centre Transport Plan and Arthur’s Quay Framework Plan both to be delivered by Limerick City and County Council, and the current variation process for the Limerick Development Plan.
Responding to An Taisce Limerick’s recent statement calling for a comprehensive update on city centre residential development, Limerick Chamber said the questions raised are legitimate, timely and must be answered. An Taisce highlighted the limited level of major city centre housing currently under construction in Limerick, citing 36 apartments at Speaker’s Corner and raising concerns around the absence of other major residential schemes in the city centre. The Chamber has backed this up, citing concern regarding the lack of zoned residential land of scale in proximity to the city centre under the current Limerick Development Plan that is currently open for consultation.
Donnacha Hurey CEO said:
“An Taisce are correct in highlighting the lack of homes being brought forward in the core city centre, we know from our own analysis that more than half of all homes provided in the city and suburbs over the last decade have been built in Limerick City East, predominantly in the Castletroy area of the city – meaning the city centre is losing out in terms of housing options for workers which feeds into a decline of the city centre”
Limerick Chamber said that while it may not necessarily agree with every individual position taken by An Taisce, the central issue is clear: the city needs a transparent delivery plan for housing, transport, public realm, heritage buildings and major regeneration sites especially those plans that have been announced but are yet to deliver meaningful progress.
Limerick Chamber believes that decision makers must now provide clear answers on the status, timelines, funding and intended uses of major publicly controlled city centre assets. This includes Opera Square, the future of the city library, the long-vacant Georgian properties forming part of the Opera site, Sarsfield House, Arthur’s Quay and other strategic locations that have the potential to transform the city centre.
The Chamber also said that the continued delay in publishing and progressing the City Centre Transport Plan is undermining delivery confidence, investment certainty and business trust. A modern, accessible and commercially vibrant city centre cannot be delivered without clarity on transport, movement, parking, public realm, active travel, servicing and access for workers, residents, visitors and businesses.
Donnacha Hurley, CEO of Limerick Chamber, said:
“An Taisce has raised a number of serious and legitimate questions, and Limerick Chamber believes those questions deserve clear answers. We do not need another round of vague commitments or aspirational language. We need timelines, funding clarity, delivery milestones and accountability.
“Limerick city centre has enormous potential, but potential is not enough. Opera Square, Sarsfield House, Arthur’s Quay, the Georgian properties on Patrick Street, Rutland Street and Ellen Street, and the City Centre Transport Plan are not abstract policy issues. They are real projects that affect confidence, footfall, housing supply, business viability and the everyday experience of the city.
“The delay in the City Centre Transport Plan is particularly concerning. Businesses, residents and investors need certainty. The city cannot continue to wait indefinitely for decisions that should already have been made. Limerick needs a city centre that is easy to access, attractive to invest in, and capable of supporting more people living, working and spending time in the heart of the city.
“But we are saying that the public, businesses and communities are entitled to transparency and delivery. If projects have changed, say so. If timelines have slipped, explain why. If funding is not in place, be honest about that and bringing options forward for other projects that can be funded and delivered instead. What is not acceptable is continued uncertainty around key sites in the middle of a housing crisis and at a time when city centre businesses need renewed confidence.”
The Chamber said that more residential development in the city centre would support footfall, safety, evening activity and local businesses ultimately feeding into all-day footfall. It also said that commercial uses, public services, cultural amenities and public realm investment remain essential to the future of Limerick but must be delivered through a coherent and credible plan.
Mr Hurley added:
“Limerick has waited long enough for clarity on too many strategic city centre projects. The public sector owns or controls key assets in the heart of the city. That creates a responsibility to lead by example. The business community wants to see ambition, but ambition must now be matched by delivery.
“We need a city centre that is lived in, invested in, moved through efficiently and supported by high-quality public spaces. That means housing delivery, transport clarity, restoration of derelict buildings, progress on landmark sites and honest communication with the public.
“The consultation for the Arthur’s Quay Framework Plan was launched almost 3 years ago and we are yet to see any meaningful progress or reports based off the consultation. We can see the value of Arthur’s Quay Park for events like Riverfest, but yet there is a total lack of transparency regarding the future of the plan. What should be a strategic and prioritised asset, appears to be falling behind”
“Like An Taisce, as part of our submission to the Framework Plan for Arthurs Quay, we advocated for retrofitting Sarsfield House to provide much needed worker friendly homes in the city centre”
Limerick Chamber said it will continue to engage constructively with local and national decision makers, but stressed that constructive engagement must be matched by measurable progress.
For Media Enquiries:
Donnacha Hurley – CEO of Limerick Chamber
ceo@limerickchamber.ie
085 139 0404
Supporting Material
References
- This article incorporates information and commentary referenced in an original press release issued by An Taisce relating to housing delivery and apartment development in Limerick city centre.
- Related media coverage: Limerick Leader – “Out of patience”: Fury over lack of apartments in Limerick city centre
