Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 58 of the above Act that Limerick City and County Council being the Planning Authority for Limerick, has prepared a proposed Variation No. 3 to the Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028 (as varied).
Reason For Proposed Variation No.3
To accelerate housing delivery and respond to recent changes in National planning policy, namely the publication of the National Planning Framework (NPF) First Revision and the publication of the following Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines:
- NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements, Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2025)
- Planning Design Standards for Apartments, Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2025)
- Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2024)
Content of Proposed Variation No.3
The Proposed variation consists of amendments to Volume 1, Written Statement, Volume 2a Maps and Settlement Capacity Audit and Volume 6, Supporting Strategies, in so far as it relates to the Building Heights Strategy and the Housing Strategy and Housing Need Demand Assessment. The variation comprises proposed amendments to the following;
- Volume 1, written statement and appendices as follows,
- Amendments to Chapter 2, Core Strategy including updated Core Strategy table, and updated densities ranges to ensure consistency Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines as referenced above.
- Amendments to Chapter 3, Spatial Strategy including new objectives and amendments to existing objectives to support and facilitate the activation of zoned lands for residential use.
- Amendments to Chapter 11, Development Management Standards to ensure consistency with Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines as referenced above.
Amendments to sections of the following chapters of the Plan
Chapter 1 – Introduction, Vision and Strategic Overview
Chapter 4 – Housing
Chapter 5 – A Strong Economy
Chapter 7 – Sustainable Mobility and Transport
Chapter 8 – Infrastructure
Chapter 12 – Land Use Zoning Strategy
Chapter 13 – Implementation and Monitoring
- Amendments to Appendix 1: Section 28 Guidelines Compliance
- Volume 2a maps and Settlement Capacity Audit,
- Proposed amendments to land use zoning for a number of identified lands to facilitate residential uses and for strategic planned projects within the boundary of Limerick City and Suburbs including Mungret and Annacotty
- Proposed amendments to land use zoning to reflect developments that have occurred since the adoption of the Plan and to capture the current land use context within the boundary of Limerick City and Suburbs, including Mungret and Annacotty.
Proposed amendments to the Settlement Capacity Audit maps and tables for Limerick City and Suburbs reflective of zoning changes and the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2024).
- Volume 6, Supporting Strategies
- Updated Housing Strategy and Housing Need Demand Assessment, to inform policy for the remaining period of the Limerick Development Plan to 2028 and beyond.
- Proposed amendments to Policy in the Building Height Strategy and subsequent changes to Development Plan objectives in so far as it relates to building height.
The Proposed Variation is accompanied by
• A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Determination and SEA Environmental Report (of the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the proposed Variation) pursuant to the European Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC) and the European Union (Land Use Planning – Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2025;
• An Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Determination and Appropriate Assessment Screening Report – pursuant to Article 6(3) of the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Planning & Development Act 2024 (as amended); and
• A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), in accordance with the relevant Section 28 Guidelines.
Public Display of the Proposed Variation
The Proposed Variation and associated SEA, AA and SFRA documents will be on public display from Saturday 18th April to Monday 18th of May 2026 inclusive and will be available to view online at www.limerick.ie/limerick-development-plan and also available to view in the following venues.
- Limerick City and County Council Corporate Headquarters, Merchants Quay, Limerick;
- Limerick City and County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, Limerick;
- Limerick City and County Council Municipal District Offices in Newcastle West, Kilmallock and Rathkeale.
- Limerick City Library, Barrow House, Michael Street, Limerick
- Dooradoyle Library, Dooradoyle, Limerick
- Watch House Cross Community Library, Watch House Cross Shopping Centre, Moyross, Limerick
Making a Submission
Limerick City and County Council hereby invites any interested parties to make a submission/observation relating to the Proposed Variation No.3 to the Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028 (as varied), via the following mediums by 5pm on Monday 18th of May 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- Online at https://mypoint.limerick.ie
- Email to forwardplanning@limerick.ie or
- In writing to Forward Planning – Planning, Heritage and Ryder Cup Directorate, Limerick City and County Council, Merchants Quay, Limerick.
In respect of making a submission or observation relating to the proposed variation, please note the following:
- Submissions/observations should include your name, address and a map (if required for identification purposes) and, where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc., which you represent.
- Please be advised that all submissions received will be published online in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act, 2024(as amended).
- Please make your submission by one medium only, i.e. hard copy, email or online.
- Please insert the heading “Variation No. 3 to the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028.
- Written submissions or observations relating to the Proposed Variation No.3 and/or associated SEA, AA or SFRA documents that are made to the Planning Authority within the period stated, shall be taken into consideration before making the Proposed Variation.
Note: Limerick City and County Council is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (2014) and to the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Please note that by giving your contact details you are agreeing to the Council GDPR policy.
Notice of Determination in Respect of the Appropriate Assessment of Proposed Variation No. 3 to the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 (as varied).
With respect to the Determination in respect of the Appropriate Assessment of Proposed Variation No. 3 to the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 (as varied), on the basis of a screening for Appropriate Assessment (AA), the planning authority has determined that: pursuant to Section 202 of Part 6 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, and for the purposes of Article 6(3) of the European Habitats Directive, as amended, that it can be excluded, on the basis of objective information, that the emerging Proposed Variation, individually, or in combination with other plans and projects, does not have a likelihood for having any significant effect on any European site. Therefore, Stage 2 AA is not required.
The Screening for AA Determination has been informed by a Screening for AA Report – both documents detail the reasons for the determination and accompany the Proposed Variation including being available alongside Proposed Variation on www.limerick.ie and mypoint.limerick.ie.
Signed:
Stephane Duclot
Director of Planning, Heritage and Ryder Cup
Limerick City and County Council
