Limerick Chamber | Limerick City Centre Report

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Limerick City Centre Report

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

CEO Welcome The Limerick City Centre has long been the vibrant heart of the region, serving as a hub of commerce, culture, and community for generations. As the city continues to evolve and grow, it is crucial to ensure that the city centre thrives and adapts to the changing needs and expectations of its residents, businesses, and visitors.

This report is of paramount importance as it delves into the critical aspects that will shape the future of Limerick City Centre. By examining its current state, identifying challenges and opportunities, and offering strategic recommendations, this report lays the foundation for the city centre's prosperous and sustainable future, securing its position as a dynamic and thriving urban core for generations to come. From revitalising urban spaces to enhancing infrastructure and community engagement, the findings presented here will guide stakeholders, policymakers, and residents in shaping a city centre that remains the pride of Limerick and a model for urban development in the years ahead.

The report is broadly split into three sections. Firstly, we have analysed Census 2022 data specifically for the city centre; secondly, we look at survey responses to our city centre-specific survey; and lastly, we use this evidence base to provide recommendations that will help to improve the city centre.

We extend our gratitude to all our dedicated members who have played a vital role in creating the City Centre Report. We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the countless individuals who participated in our survey, sharing valuable insights and perspectives that have been instrumental in shaping the recommendations and findings presented in this report.

Your input has been invaluable, and we thank you for your time and thoughtful responses. Together, we are working towards a brighter and more vibrant future for Limerick City Centre.

Dee Ryan CEO, Limerick Chamber

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Contents

1.0 - Presidents Foreword & Introduction

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2.0 - Policy Context

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2.1 - Project Ireland 2040

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2.2 - The National Planning Framework

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2.3 - The National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027

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2.4 - Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF)

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2.5 - Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) Southern Regional Assembly

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2.6 - Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040 (LSMATS)

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2.7 - Draft BusConnects Limerick

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2.8 - Limerick 2030 - An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick

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2.9 - Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028

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3.0 - Census 2022 City Centre Demographic Overview

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3.1 – Population Overview

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3.2 – Language Overview

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3.3 – Household & Homes Overview

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3.4 – Employment and Education Overview

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3.5 – Commuting Overview

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4.0 - City Centre Survey

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4.1 – Respondent Demographics

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4.2 – City Centre Living

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4.3 – City Centre Definition

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4.4 – Visiting the City Centre

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4.5 – Shopping Habits

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4.6 – City Centre Transport

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4.7 - City Centre Transformation

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4.8 – Perception of Safety

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4.9 - City Centre Health Check

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5.0 – Themes & Recommendations

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5.1 – Data Collection & Definitions 5.1.1 – Definition of City, City Centre & Suburbs

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.1.2 – Regular Collection of Data

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5.1.3 – Key Data Indicators

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5.1.4 – Limerick Economic Forum (LEF)

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5.1.5 – Office Space Demand Assessment

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5.1.6 – Residential Demand Assessment

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5.2 – Safety 5.2.1 – Increase Garda Presence

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5.2.2 – Reporting Crimes

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5.2.3 – All agency approach

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5.3 – Housing & Development

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5.3.1 – Renovate Limerick

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5.3.2 – Living Cities Initiative

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5.3.3 – Maintaining Buildings & Aesthetics

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5.3.4 – Signage and Store Fronts

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5.3.5 – “All Life” Accommodation

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5.3.6 – Commercial Vacancy

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5.3.7 – Worker Housing

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5.3.8 – Over the shop living

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5.3.9 – Strategic Business Areas

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5.4 – Cleanliness

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5.4.1 – Regular Cleaning

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5.4.2 – Bin Storage for Businesses

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5.4.3 - Decluttering Strategy

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5.5 Transport

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5.5.1 – City Centre Mobility Plan

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5.5.2 – Parking Enforcement

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5.5.3 – Bus Stop & Loading Bay Renewal

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5.5.4 – Improve Crossways

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5.5.5 – Bicycle Storage

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5.5.6 – Cargo Bikes

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.6 – Public Realm

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5.6.1 – Public Toilets

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5.6.2 –The Milk Market

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5.6.3 –World Class Waterfront

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5.6.4 – Public Spaces

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5.6.5 – Biodiversity & City Greening

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5.6.6 – Laneways Project

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5.7 – Culture, Entertainment, Shopping & Attractions

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5.7.1 –Urban Gaeltacht

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5.7.2 –Marketing for the City

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5.7.3 – Street Art

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5.7.4 –Amenities

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5.7.5 – King John’s Castle

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5.8 – Retail

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5.8.1 – High End & Diversified Retail

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5.8.2 – Cruises Street

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5.8.3 – Online Support

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5.8.4 – Shopping Centres Vs City Centres

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6.0 - Author’s Concluding Remarks

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7.0 - Summary of Recommendations

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

1.0 President’s Foreword & Introduction In 2021, Limerick Chamber allocated significant resources to undertake the Future Limerick Report in conjunction with Indecon Economic Consultants in response to concerns held by Limerick Chamber and its members for the continuing decline of Limerick city centre. The Future Limerick Report provided an independent assessment of the performance of Limerick City compared to other international cities and outlined measures to support the sustainable development of the city going forward. Since its launch, we have used the findings in the report as a blueprint for our lobbying activities for the city centre and as a basis for further in-depth research by the Chamber policy team. Last year, we launched the Strategic Development Pipeline (SDP), a key recommendation of the report, to showcase an estimated €6 billion worth of capital investment in the region and to act as a point of contact for citizens, investors and stakeholders alike to identify what projects are coming on stream and, more importantly, to ensure greater accountability for the delivery of public projects within our city centre.

In March of this year, we launched the first research paper in our Better Regions Initiative, a series of independent reports centred on the revitalisation of our city centre, using insights from the Future Limerick Report but based on the independent research conducted by the in-house Chamber policy team led by Seán Golden.

As part of this initiative, we wanted to lead a more indepth study of the city centre in real-time and bring forward evidence-based recommendations to improve the city centre, which had largely been informed by member feedback. This independent research has culminated in this report, which provides evidence-based findings and recommendations which, if implemented, will undoubtedly accelerate the rejuvenation of our city centre.

The release of Census 2022 data offered us an opportune moment to undertake this research and drill down into the data to understand the undercurrent of economic trends that make Limerick the city it is today.

On top of that, we carried out a wide-sweeping survey,

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which attracted almost 500 respondents from across Limerick and further afield.

What our research told us was that while there are some things that work very well in the city centre, there are others that need improvement. Limerick Chamber unequivocally supports the development of the city centre as not only a place to do business but also as a place to live, work and be educated. A place where people can live their whole lives if they so desire.

However, the Chamber’s ambition for a vibrant, thriving city centre boasting medieval and Georgian quarters on the banks of the river Shannon is detached from the reality of our current city centre.

Limerick Chamber undertakes a plethora of research across many sectors and often focuses on the city centre. Therefore, the City Centre Report began from a very strong base of research into key economic trends and policy instruments.

At a high level, the data suggests we need to increase the number of homes in the city centre, with a particular emphasis on private ownership and affordable rental.

We need to provide greater options for people to raise their family in the city centre, and indeed greater options where people can grow old in the city centre.

We also found a desire for the city to become a safer and nicer place to both visit and live, with many people citing security as one of the primary issues with the city centre.

Of course, in recent years, there has been no shortage of private investment across Limerick, but the City Centre Report aims to bring forward a number of recommendations for the city centre, which are based on data, that will propel Limerick into the future and match the ambition that has been outlined over the last number of years by private investors.

The report will act as a blueprint within the Chamber for the coming years as we advocate and lobby for a better Limerick in advance of some exciting changes with the Directly Elected Mayor and, of course, the Ryder Cup.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Limerick and the wider Mid-West has huge potential.

Our geographical location on the Shannon Estuary, proximity to a Shannon Airport and access to state-ofthe-art third-level universities and institutions make Limerick and the Mid-West not only attractive for FDI investment but also for indigenous business growth.

Having a vibrant, thriving city centre is key to ensuring our continued success as a viable investable proposition.

At the heart of any powerful and burgeoning region lies a thriving city. Limerick City is the lynch pin of the Mid-West, and its potential for growth is vast. The city has many positives; however, there is still room for improvement in order for it to reach its next level of development in the years to come. With the suggestions and data outlined in this report, Limerick City can be propelled to new levels of success.

Miriam O’Connor President, Limerick Chamber

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

2.0 Policy Context The aim of this section is to outline the policy context that supports and aligns with the recommendations of this paper. There are several national, regional, and local policies with goals aimed at rejuvenating city centres and improving transport and housing options within urban areas in order to increase livability. However, some of these policy documents, while welcome, lack detail on how the overall target will be achieved and what mechanisms will be used to reach these goals.

2.1 - Project Ireland 2040 Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy initiative, which aims to make Ireland a better country for us all. Project Ireland’s planning objectives incorporate population projections and its ambitions for balanced regional development. Project Ireland outlines ten Strategic Outcomes. National Strategic Outcome 1, Compact Growth, outlines the ambition to secure at least 40% of our future housing needs by building and renewing within our existing urban areas. The €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) shows the government’s commitment to achieve compact growth in Ireland’s major cities. This Strategic Outcome is also underpinned by Strategic Outcome 4, Sustainability Mobility and Strategic Outcome 5, A Strong Economy, supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills.

2.2 - The National Planning Framework (As part of Project Ireland 2040) calls for the strengthening of Ireland’s urban structures with a particular focus on Ireland’s major cities (Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, and Waterford) under the National Policy Objective 7. National Policy Objective 5 “develop cities and towns of sufficient scale and quality to compete internationally and to be drivers of national and regional growth, investment and prosperity”. National Policy Objective 6 “Regenerate and rejuvenate cities, towns and villages of all types and scale as environmental assets that can accommodate changing roles and functions, increased residential population and employment activity and enhanced levels of amenity and design quality, in order to sustainably influence and support their surrounding area”.

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2.3- The National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027 (As part of Project Ireland 2040) aims to act as a driver for “Ireland’s long-term economic, environmental and social progress across all parts of the country over the next decade”. The National Development Plan outlines approximately a €165 billion commitment to deliver the goals within the National Planning Framework.

It was updated in 2021 to realign with the Government’s investment and development priorities. The NDP plays a huge role in helping Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, and the Land Development Agency develop social and affordable housing. Furthermore, the NDP aims at developing critical infrastructure to facilitate the growth of cities.

2.4 - Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) The €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund shows the government’s commitment under the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan to achieve compact growth in Ireland’s major cities. Limerick City has been allocated €116 million of the URDF. €73 million of which is dedicated towards the World Class Waterfront, which includes the Cleeves Riverside Quarter and the Pedestrian Bridges and Waterfront Infrastructure Works. The remaining €42 million is for the Livable Limerick City Centre Initiative, which includes the Living Georgian City Programme, Digital Innovation Cluster Programme, and the Citizen Collaboration Programme.

2.5 - Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) Southern Regional Assembly The RSES provides an overarching framework to create a more attractive region, seeking to support the NPF’s goals and to promote the region’s sustainability and realise its economic potential. It does so through strategic planning and an economic framework aimed at supporting and improving necessary infrastructure to act as a catalyst for business growth investment.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

2.6 - Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040 (LSMATS) – is a long-term plan to develop and enhance the transport infrastructure in the region. This strategic plan aims to enhance the region’s attractiveness through a high-quality, sustainable and integrated transport infrastructure to support the economic development and sustainability of the region. The LSMATS plays a vital role in the future economic and spatial development of the Limerick and Shannon Metropolitan Area. The strategy is aimed at delivering a coherent transport strategy to cater for multimodal mobility - from bus to rail, to heavy freight, to walking and cycling.

2.7 - BusConnects Limerick The draft plan aims to transform the city through an enhanced, efficient and more readily available bus network. The BusConnects plan proposes a 24-hour bus service that would operate between University Hospital Limerick, the city centre and the University of Limerick. The plan also incorporates suburban linkages with the city and environs, which include Ennis Road, Dock Road, the University of Limerick north campus, Ardnacrusha, and Raheen. The city centre is to act as the main point of interchange.

2.8 - Limerick 2030 - An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick This Plan recognizes the intricacies and codependencies of different aspects of the economy to economic development and sustainability. This plan aims to drive affordable housing, efficient transport,

sustainable energy, an attractive environment, efficient healthcare, social services and education, among other things, in tandem to promote a strong economy.

Of the 13 objectives stated in the Limerick 2030 Plan, there are five economic objectives and eight spatial objectives. One of the economic objectives is to “create a vibrant City Centre Economy with a new mix of economic uses and a strong education presence”. All 8 of the spatial objectives outline the desire to develop the city centre - 1) to create a competitive European city, 2) to position the city as a premiere shopping destination, 3) to establish a unique tourism offering, 4) to make the city centre a desirable place to live, 5) to create a high quality and safe urban environment, 6) to build upon the City Centre’s rich historic character, 7) to create quality strategic gateways to the City Centre, 8) to attract and retain young people by providing learning opportunities.

2.9 - Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 The vision of the Plan is for Limerick City to grow as the centre of economic, social and cultural development for the Mid-West Region. The plan has four main goals: 1) A Green Region - develop Limerick City as an environmentally sustainable and carbon neutral economy, a pioneer in sustainable growth. 2) Embracing the River Shannon - provide room for people to enjoy the River Shannon / Estuary through the development of the world-class waterfront. 3) Resilient, Connected and Inclusive Communities – increasing opportunities for movement and connectivity. 4) A Sustainable, Innovative and Competitive Economy – Develop an inclusive, self-sustaining economy built on growth and innovation.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

3.0 Census 2022 City Centre Demographic Overview A full review of what is considered by people as the “city centre” has not been undertaken in recent years.

As part of our survey for this report (covered in the next section), there was broad consensus on what constitutes the city centre in place of current ill-defined boundaries.

From that, we performed an in-depth analysis of the Census 2022 results exclusively for the area that we defined as the city centre. In conjunction with the city centre survey, this demographic information from Census 2022 has allowed us to propose evidence-based recommendations for the betterment of the city centre to nudge some of these demographic points in different directions.

3.1 - Population Overview The 2022 population of the city centre was 7,769. This represents a 28% population growth from the 2016 Census (6,071 people). In 2016, there were 3,431 males and 2,640 females. In 2022, there were 4,180 males and 3,589 females – which represents a 22% increase in the male population and a 36% increase in the female population. The population split in 2022 was 54% males and 46% females living in the city centre.

The largest age segment in 2016 was those aged 30 to 34 years of age (15.9%). By 2022, this share had dropped to 12.7%, with the largest age segment in 2022 being those aged 35 to 39. This makes sense as this cohort is moving through the age timeline.

However, while almost all age cohorts increased their population between 2016 and 2022, two didn’t. Those two were people aged 0 to 4 years and those aged 80 to 84 years. Perhaps this means that families are deciding not to have children while living in the city centre.

There are noteworthy changes in the overall share that certain age segments occupy. For example, those aged 39 and below decreased their share of the overall population by 5.4% from 2016 to 2022; meanwhile, those aged 40 and above have increased their share by 5.4%. What this means is that Limerick City Centre is an ageing city, where the “youth” are occupying less of a share. However, it also outlines that Limerick City

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Centre is not just a place where the ”youth” can live, but it can also be a place where middle-aged people can live. However, to encourage vibrancy and to make the city more attractive, it is important to ensure it is a place where people can start new families and remain for their lives but also cater to young adults and professionals.

Interestingly, just 18.5% of the population in the city centre are under the age of 19.

The city centre is overwhelmingly “single” people (64%), with married people taking a 27% share. The “other” segment makes up a 9% share and is made up of separated, divorced, and widowed. It is an important point to note that “single” in this instance may include those in non-official relationships (unmarried) such as a couple, etc. As we will see later, one-person households (single) make up 33.1% of overall households, while couples in varying degrees make up approximately 14% of households.

Following that, the CSO provided information about families. 47% of families in the city centre do not have children, while 29% have one child and 16% have two children, with the remaining 8% being for families with three children and above.

As part of Census 2022, 38% of the residents of the city centre were Irish citizens. The second largest share were citizens of Non-EU countries (25%), with residents of the EU27 following behind at 18%. What is important to note from this data is that 17% of people failed to declare their citizenship, meaning some portions of the population could be, in reality, higher than others.

To put the city centre population into a more modern and colloquial context. The majority of residents in the city centre fit into the “Millennial” bracket (25 – 44 yrs), with the second most popular category being Gen X (16%) ( 45 – 59 yrs). Due to the age brackets from the Census, they do not line up exactly with the clear definition for the generational brackets, but they are accurate within one to two years.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Fig. 3.1.1 – Age Population Pyramids (2016 vs 2022)

Fig 3.1.2 – Age Bracket Growth (2016 – 2022)

Fig 3.1.3 – Age Share (Percentage)

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

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Fig 3.1.4 – Percentage of Population by Marital Status

Fig 3.1.5 – Families with and without children

Fig 3.1.6 – Percentage of Population by Citizenship

Fig 3.1.7 – Generational Brackets

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

3.2 - Language Overview

Fig 3.2.1 – Speakers of a Foreign Language (% share foreign language speakers only)

Results for Census 2022 outlined that there were c.

2,700 foreign language speakers in the city centre.

The largest segment was “other”, which includes those that did not state their language, at 75%. However, the largest segment of a stated language was polish at 17%, followed by Spanish and French at 4% each.

Most speakers of foreign languages (81%) describe their ability to speak English as “well” or “very well”. However, 15% outline that their ability to speak English as “not well” or “not at all”. This equates to approximately 407 people in the city centre who could improve their English with some help.

The ability to speak Irish is measured out of the total population and not just Irish citizens. However, the data reflects very poorly on the ability to speak Irish in the city centre. Just 13% outline that they can speak Irish, while 48% of people outline that they can’t speak Irish.

However, quite a large segment is “not stated,” which could influence numbers in reality. Given the portion of Irish citizens in the city centre, it is unsurprising that this is reflected in the ability to speak Irish data.

However, this information does offer some insights into the strengths and weaknesses of Limerick City Centre.

We have a large portion of foreign language speakers, with most speaking English well. This allows Limerick to have a unique selling point for international roles that require people with more than one language. However, there is a large element of people that don’t speak English very well. This can lead to lower workforce participation in a time when Ireland is struggling to find workers, and helping this cohort improve their English language proficiency could help to increase workforce participation. Given the cultural significance of the Irish language, the share of speakers is worryingly low but provides Limerick with the potential to put a strategy together to boost Irish speaking and put Limerick on a path to become Ireland’s first “Urban Gaeltacht”.

Fig 3.2.2 – English Language Ability

Fig 3.2.3 –Irish Language Ability (All People)

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

3.3 – Household & Homes Overview Limerick City Centre is a place of smaller households.

73% of households as part of Census 2022 were one or two-person households. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) define a household as “a single person or group of people who regularly reside together in the same accommodation and who share the same catering arrangements. The household members defined in this fashion are not necessarily related by blood or by marriage.” i.e. a household can comprise one or more persons that do not have to be related but can be.

33% of households are single people, the largest cohort.

The second largest cohort, at 27%, are two or more non-related persons. This cohort is most likely renters who are sharing a home with other people. Just 17% of households have children. Outlining that more work has to be undertaken to make the city centre and living arrangements more family and child-friendly.

While the city centre certainly does not have enough apartments, 87% of existing households do live in either a flat or an apartment. This means that as it stands, the city centre is doing well in terms of dense urban living. The issue is there aren’t enough apartments to accommodate more people. Just 13% of the households in the city centre are a house or bungalow.

Interestingly, on Census night in 2022, 89% of homes were occupied – while 10% were vacant. This equates to approximately 357 homes being vacant. In this instance, the CSO defines vacant as “a point in time indicator taken on Census Night as to whether the property was inhabited or not on Sunday, 3 April 2022”. There are a multitude of reasons why a property might be vacant: the owner has died, it is up for rent, it is being renovated, it is for sale, the owner is in a hospital or a nursing home, the owner is living with relatives, or the owner has emigrated. Unfortunately, CSO data does not drill down into the city centre, and more analysis would need to be undertaken to see if these homes are long-term vacant and also what type of living condition the home is in. However, at a high level, with no further analysis,

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an additional 357 households living in the city centre would have significant economic potential for the city and local businesses.

The CSO also capture households by the year the home was built. The largest share is for those homes built between 2001 and 2010 (25%), while the second largest share is tied between homes built from 1991 and 2000 (19%) and those homes built pre-1919 (19%). There are 630 households in homes built pre-1919. Meanwhile, there are just 60 households built in 2016 or later. This outlines two items: there is huge scope in the city centre to renovate and live in older buildings, and there has been a collapse of building new residential in the city centre since 2016.

The ownership status of private households in the city centre is very skewed towards rental accommodation, with over 71% of households renting. Split between 59% of households renting from private landlords and 12% renting social housing from either the Local Authority or an Approved Housing Body (AHB). However, it is worth noting that the number of people renting through social housing mechanisms is likely largely understated, as people using the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) are renting from the private market. Just 7% of people own their own home in the city centre, be that they own outright or with a mortgage.

The majority of households rely on electricity as their source for central heating (51.3%), followed by natural gas (13.9%). There is a large portion of this question that was not answered (28.2%), which could skew the results. Worryingly, the third largest category was no central heating (3.3%) – which equates to roughly 108 households. Interestingly, just 3% of households outline that they have access to renewable energy sources.

Unfortunately, there is a large cohort within the Census data that did not state how many bedrooms their home had (58%). However, with the information we do have, it does support the fact that the city centre has smaller overall households, with 37% of households being in one or two-bedroom homes.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Fig 3.3.1 – Composition of Private Households

Fig 3.3.3 – Private Household by Home Type

Fig 3.3.2 – Private Household Size (by number of people)

Fig 3.3.4 –Occupancy

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

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Fig 3.3.5 – Private Households by Build Year

Fig 3.3.7 – Central Heating Source

Fig 3.3.6 – Ownership Status

Fig 3.3.8 – Access to Renewable Energy

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Fig 3.3.9 - Number of Bedrooms by Household

3.4 - Employment and Education Overview Census 2022 provides information for people aged 15 and over by their economic status. This is separated into a broad array of categories. For the city centre, 60% of the population was working, while 10% fit the common definition of unemployed (not working but available to work) while the remaining 29% was split between students (10%), Retired (7%), Sickness or Disability (6%) and looking after the home or family (5%). It is worth noting that regular unemployment is calculated from those willing and able to work and removing “others” from the population. The graphs accompanying this analysis reflect economic status rather than pure employment and unemployment. Removing the “other” category from this graph would yield a more

accurate picture, with an employment rate of 86% and an unemployment rate of 14%, which is substantially above the Mid-West and national averages. However, it is worth noting again that the census was a point-in-time analysis in April 2022. However, more investigation is required to see if this 14% unemployment is reflective of current unemployment in the city centre. Unfortunately, for data integrity purposes, the CSO does not publish employment or unemployment at a county or city level on a regular basis.

We also examined the split between males and females and their economic status. Males have a greater percentage of their population at work than females (63% versus 57%), while females have a larger share of those in education than males (13% versus 9%), males have slightly more of their share that is long-term unemployed than the female population (6% versus 4%), while females have a far greater share of their population looking after the home or family than males do (9% versus 1%).

The entire population was classified into one of ten specific socio-economic groups by the CSO as part of Census 2022. In addition, a residual group entitled “All others gainfully occupied and unknown” was used where sufficient details were not provided. The socioeconomic classification aims to bring together persons with similar social and economic statuses on the basis of the level of skill or educational attainment required.

In defining socio-economic groups, no attempt is made by the CSO to rank groups in order of socioeconomic importance. It is worth noting that as part

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

of the methodology for socio-economic groups, the CSO outlines, “Unemployed or retired persons aged 15 years and over are classified according to their former occupation and employment status. Persons looking after the home /family or at school /college, who are members of a family unit, were classified to the socio-economic group of another person in the family unit using a priority table based on the relationships within the family.”

With that in mind, the largest socio-economic grouping for Limerick City Centre was Non-manual (26%); however, there was a very large cohort of “others” at 50%.

The CSO also produced information for “Social Class” as part of Census 2022. The CSO outlines that “the occupations included in each of these groups have been selected in such a way as to bring together, as far as possible, people with similar levels of occupational skill. In determining social class, no account is taken of the differences between individuals on the basis of other characteristics such as education.

Accordingly, social class ranks occupations by the level of skill required on a social class scale, ranging from 1 (highest) to 7 (lowest). This scale combines occupations into six groups by occupation and employment status, following procedures similar to those outlined above for the allocation of socio-economic groups. A residual category ‘All others gainfully occupied and unknown’ is used where no precise allocation is possible.”

When examining social class, there was a significant cohort listed as “others” at 52%. However, the largest stated population was for Managerial and Technical at 14% - this is ranked number two on the seven classifications from the CSO. The second most popular category was Semi-skilled (9%), which is ranked fifth out of seven in the classifications. Interestingly, the city centre has fewer people ranked in the bottom half (skilled manual, semi-skilled, unskilled) at a combined 20% than those ranked in the top half of rankings (professional workers, managerial and technical, nonmanual), which reach a combined 25%.

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The city centre has a broad scope of people with the highest educational attainment. There is a sizeable cohort that has not disclosed their highest level of educational attainment, however. The largest cohort within the city centre were those people whose highest educational attainment was either primary or secondary school. In total, this was 22% of the population, with males, at 24%, having a higher share than females (19%). The second largest category was those that have received a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. The total for this cohort was 17%, with more females (19%) than males (16%) having attained this level of education. The third largest cohort was those who have completed education focusing on technical vocational and apprenticeship degrees and certs. With 14% of the total population being within this cohort, however, males are represented (15%) slightly more than females (14%). Lastly, the fourth largest cohort is those who have attained a postgraduate qualification, with 10% of the total population receiving this level of educational attainment. Again, females (11%) are more represented than males (9%).

While a diversely educated population is something to be welcomed, it is a slight concern that the largest group for educational attainment are those with a primary or secondary school level. It begs the question: is the city centre doing enough to retain the graduates that it produces from further and higher education, and is it doing enough to attract those people from outside Limerick and even attract them from the suburbs?

However, given the city centre’s older population cohort is likely made up of many people who only needed secondary school education to obtain work, this may be just the blending of different generations – whereby younger generations now have a greater educational requirement to obtain work.

The CSO also capture data on workers by their sector or industry. Of the named industries, professional services (18%) have the largest share, followed by commerce and trade (17%). Single-digit represented industries range from manufacturing and construction to public administration.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Fig 3.4.1 – Population Over 15 by Economic Status

Fig 3.4.2 – Economic Status by Sex

Fig 3.4.3 – Population by Social Class

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Fig 3.4.4 – Percentage of Private Households by socio-economic group

Fig 3.4.5 – Highest Educational Attainment (People aged 15 and over)

Fig 3.4.6 – Workers by Industry

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

3.5 - Commuting Overview As part of our analysis, we also examined commuting patterns and how those in the city centre get to where they are going and how long it takes them. It is worth noting that some of this data outlines total figures and splits between those travelling to work and those travelling to school, college, or childcare. The item worth noting here is the difference in population sizes.

For example, there are c. 5,400 people within the commuting analysis, c. 3,900 are going to work while c.

1,500 are going to school, college, or childcare. So, while percentages outline what mode the work cohorts use, the actual number of users within those percentages is likely higher than those going to school, college, or childcare. For example, 36% of people going to school, college, or childcare travel by foot, while 20% of workers travel by foot. However, examining this by total users, 530 people travel to school, college, or childcare on foot; meanwhile, 794 travel to work on foot.

With that in mind, looking at modal share, on foot is the largest mode of travel, with 25% of all “commuters” travelling by foot, equating to 20% of those travelling to work and 36% of those travelling to school, college, or childcare. The second largest modal share for workers and those travelling to school, college or childcare is different. For work, it is as a car driver; for school, college, or childcare, it is by bus, minibus, or coach. This is expected as being a “car driver” has an age requirement that excludes many of the cohorts within school, college, or childcare. However, even combining car driver and passenger statistics together, just 10% of those travelling to school, college, or childcare travel by car, while 25% of workers travel to work either as a passenger or driver.

Overall, 10% of the population travel by bus, minibus, or coach – making it the third largest option for the overall population but second largest option for those going to school, college or childcare at 13%. The fifth-largest modal share was for cycling, with 2% of the commuting population cycling, resulting in 2% of workers cycling and 2% of those going to school, college or childcare cycling. The low modal share of cycling could be for many reasons, some positive some negative. Given that “on foot” is the largest modal share, this is likely eating into what could be a larger portion of cycling, with people deciding to travel shorter distances on foot rather than

by bicycle. It could also mean that those taking longer journeys decide to use a car or public transport. It could also mean that people don’t feel safe cycling or that the cycling infrastructure is not quite there yet in terms of bringing people where they want to go.

Unfortunately, modal share information does come with a health warning as there are large segments of “not stated”, meaning other modes could be understated.

As part of the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS), it is an objective to change the make-up of modal share in the future from car dependency to public and active travel. According to the LSMATS, 70% of the Limerick Metropolitan Area travel by car, 23% walk, 4% use public transport, and 3% cycle.

57% of the households in the city centre outline that they do not have a car, while 43% outline that they have at least one car. To break this down further, 36.7% have one car, 5.9% have two cars and 0.5% have three or more cars. What this tells us is that residents of the city centre have approximately 1,030 cars – this means that c. 57% of all public on-street car parking in the city centre could be theoretically in use by residents of the city centre, by expanding this and including public on street and private car parking in the city centre it would represent c. 20% of all car parking spaces.

Just over 18% of those who took part in Census 2022 outline that they work from home sometimes. While just over 39% state that they never work from home.

Unfortunately, there is a sizable cohort of almost 43% that did not answer this question, meaning that working from home or the office figures could be understated.

However, as part of the latest Limerick Chamber Consumer Sentiment Survey, 39% of people outlined they worked from home / hybrid, 16% outlined they work fully remotely, and 45% outlined that they are in the office full time.

Having said that, Limerick is a quick city to travel in, for now. Of the 53% of people who answered the question regarding journey time. 18% outlined it took them under 15 minutes to get to work, school or college, 22% outlined it took them between 15 and 30 minutes, with 9% outlining it takes them between 30 and 45 minutes.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Fig 3.5.1 – Means of Travel to Work and School, College or Childcare

Fig 3.5.2 – Journey Time (Minutes)

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Fig 3.5.3 – Population Working from Home

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Fig 3.5.4 – Percentage of Households with Cars

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

4.0 – City Centre Survey Limerick Chamber conducted a City Centre Survey from September to October 2023. The purpose of the survey was to understand people’s feelings towards and perception of the city centre, as well as understand ideas which people had to improve the city centre. Ultimately, this survey information, in conjunction with Census 2022 data, was used to formulate recommendations to improve the city centre.

Figure 4.1.1 Survey Respondents by Gender

4.1 – Survey Demographics Overall, there were almost 500 respondents to the survey, which was circulated widely through social media as well as Limerick Chamber’s network. The demographics of those who completed the city centre survey consist of 59% female, 40% male and just under 1% who preferred not to outline their gender. The largest age cohort to complete the survey was the 45 – 54-yearolds (34%), followed by 35 – 44-year-olds (26%). While there was a segment in the survey for people under 18, we had no respondents in that age bracket. We compared respondent age profile information versus those living in the city centre and the whole county from Census 2022. We found that, in the survey, there was an over-representation of those aged 45 to 54. Most other age brackets were within 5% of those living in the city centre or whole county. However, it is important to note that this was a survey for anybody who has an interest in the city centre, be those residents, businesses, charities, individuals, etc or even those living outside the MidWest.

Over half (54.7%) of respondents are living in Limerick city and suburbs, 26.7% are living in Limerick County, 15.9% are living between Clare (11.6%) and Tipperary (4.3%) and 2.7% are living outside the Mid-West.

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Figure 4.1.2 Survey Respondents by age Bracket

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Figure 4.1.2 Survey Respondents by age Bracket

4.2 – City Centre Living When asked, “Would you like to live in the city centre?”

61% responded no, and 39% responded yes. The 61% who did not want to live in the city centre were asked for their reasoning. Safety concerns and anti-social behaviour was the most popular reason - appearing in 38% of responses, followed by a preference for county or suburban living (21%). Interestingly, 9% outline a lack of space and or unsuitable accommodation for families and pets. This is somewhat reflected in census data for the city centre, with a skew in the census data towards smaller homes and families. For the 39% that responded yes, they noted that convenience and greater access to amenities was the primary reason for wanting to live in the city centre (72%), while 19% were attached to the vibrancy and atmosphere of the city centre. This highlights the point individual preference plays in deciding where to live; 8% cited noise as one of the factors for not wanting to live in the city centre, while 19% of people were attracted by the same “busy” environment and ambience.

Figure 4.1.3 Survey Respondents by Living Area

Figure 4.2.1 Would you like to Live in the City Centre?

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Figure 4.2.2 Reasoning for Not Wanting to Live in the City Centre

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Figure 4.2.3 Reasoning for Wanting to Live in the City Centre

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

4.3 - Definition of the City Centre There is not set definition of the “city centre”. This is a glaring omission in policy making as it is difficult to create targeted locational-based policy without a defined border. This can sometimes have a negative influence on targets, such as growing cities by 50% under the National Planning Framework. The purpose of this Limerick Chamber report is to focus on the core city centre. We provided survey respondents with three potential image options of the city centre, as well as a fourth option where people could input their own definition of the city centre. The majority of respondents chose “option 3”, which roughly equates to the area within O’Curry Street / St. Joseph’s Street / Parnell Street / Wickham Street / High Street / Mungret Street / Broad Street / Charlotte’s Quay / Arthur’s Quay Park / Honan’s Quay and Bishop’s Quay. Of course, in reality, people have different definitions of the city centre; however, from a policy perspective, it is imperative to have a solid definition. For the purpose of this report, Limerick City Centre refers to the area within Option 3.

Figure 4.3.1, The three City Centre Image Options

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4.4 – Visiting the City Centre

Figure 4.4.1 How often do Respondents Visit the City Centre to shop / Browse and Socialise

The sections outline the purpose of people’s visits, the frequency of visits, the time of visits and how long people normally stay.

In terms of the frequency of visits to shop or browse in the city centre, there is a broad range of answers. Onequarter of respondents visit the city centre more than once a week, 21% shop or browse in the city centre once a week and 11% shop or browse in the city once every two weeks. 44% of respondents’ visits to the city centre are once a month or less.

The visits to the city centre to socialise are less frequent, possibly due to the age of those who completed the survey. 13% of respondents visit more than once a week, 14% visit once a week, and 12% visit once a month. 61% of respondents visit the city centre once a month or less.

Figure 4.4.2 Time of Visits

From the data, there is a clear distinction that survey respondents whose goal is to shop visit the city centre more than those who visit to socialise.

The vast majority of respondents (75%) most often visit the city centre during commercial retail hours, 9 am to 5 pm, of which 39% visit the city centre most often between 12 pm (noon) and 5 pm and 36% visit the city centre most often between 9 am and 12 pm (noon).

12% visit from 5 pm to 9 pm, and the remaining 6% visit between 9 pm to 3 am. This outlines the lack of “all-day” footfall in the city centre, with the majority of people visiting during trading hours.

Finally, with respect to the length of respondents’ stay, almost half (45%) stay for a short period, between 1 and 2 hours, while 27% spend between 2 and 4 hours in the city centre. Just 8% spend less than an hour, and 3% spend over 4 hours. The remaining 17% live / work in the city centre already and thus visit far more frequently.

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Figure 4.4.3 Length of Visits

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

4.5 – Shopping Habits With the ever-changing dynamics of the retail and shopping environment, this survey aims to outline some of the key trends and their underlying reasons.

When asked, “Considering your in-person shopping habits, do you shop more, less or the same as you did prior to the pandemic?” 57% responded that it is unchanged, 37% shop less than pre-pandemic and 6% shop more. This suggests that the 37% of people who said less are either reducing the frequency of their in-person shopping or simply substituting their in-person shopping for online shopping, which is a worry for brick-and-mortar retailers.

Similar to results seen in Limerick Chamber’s Business Sentiment surveys, The Crescent Shopping Centre (38%), Limerick City Centre (24%) and Online Shopping (15%) are people in the Mid-West’s preferred shopping destinations, in that order. A further question was asked to understand, “Why is this location your preferred place to shop?” to which 33% said for the variety of retail offerings, 18% said for the parking options and free parking, and 17% said for reasons of accessibility and convenience.

For those who chose online as their preferred shopping destination, accessibility and convenience was the major factor (46%), closely followed by variety of retail offering (40%), while perceived better value was the motivating factor for 13% of the reasons why people chose online.

Finally, those who did not choose Limerick City Centre as their preferred shopping destination were asked for their reasons why. Almost half of the responses (47%) said it was due to a lack of retail offering, followed by a lack of parking options and free parking (27%) and reasons of accessibility and convenience. However, antisocial behaviour and safety were also concerns (13%).

Figure 4.5.1 In Person Shopping

To delve further into these choices, we viewed the top three shopping destinations in isolation to view the motivations of shoppers to shop in the destinations.

For those who chose the Crescent Shopping Centre as their favoured shopping destination, the variety of retail appeared in 36% of respondents’ reasoning, followed by parking options and free parking (27%) and accessibility / convenience (11%).

For those who chose Limerick City Centre as their favoured shopping destination, The ambience and environment appeared in 29% of people’s reasoning for this destination, followed by a variety of retail offerings (25%) and supporting local retailers (19%). However, it is worth noting that for those who do not visit the city centre, one of their primary reasons is lack of variety. As part of the city centre health check, the city centre also scored low on variety of retail.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Figure 4.5.2 Preferred Shopping Location

Figure 4.5.3 – Why is this your preferred place to shop? (All locations)

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Fig 4.5.4 – Why is the Crescent Shopping Centre your preferred place to shop?

Fig 4.5.5 – Why is Limerick City Centre your preferred place to shop?

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Fig 4.5.6 – Why is Online your preferred place to shop?

Fig 4.5.7 – Why isn’t Limerick City Centre your preferred place to shop?

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

4.6 – City Centre Transport

Figure 4.6.1 Commute to City Centre

With regards to people’s commute to the city centre, 64% commute via car, 22% walk, 5% get the bus, 2% get a taxi and a further 2% cycle.

Comparing Census 2022 data to our survey data, there is a stark difference in people’s commuting, with those outside the city centre mainly commuting by car, while those in the city centre mainly commute on foot.

Furthermore, the prevalence of using public transport is also higher for those living in the city centre than those commuting into the city centre. This outlines that one of the sure-fire ways to influence how people travel is to provide living options in places where they can walk, cycle or use the bus to get where they are going.

There is almost an even split between those that think the city centre has enough parking and those that think the city centre does not have enough parking. 47% of respondents think that the city centre has enough parking spaces, while 49% think the city centre needs more parking spaces; the remaining responses said this was not applicable to them. This outlines, from our survey responses, that the demand for parking spaces might not be as clear-cut as one would think.

Respondents were also asked about the cost of parking.

59% feel the cost of parking is too high, 38% were neutral on this topic, and just 3% feel the cost of parking is too low. So, while the amount of parking spaces isn’t a glaring issue, the price of parking might be. However, the concept of induced demand must be discussed, i.e. if parking costs were decreased, more people may be inclined to use their car, which would mean the demand for parking spaces could increase.

Again, there is an almost even split between those who think there are enough bicycle spaces versus those who think there are not enough bicycle spaces. When asked, “Do you think the city centre has enough bicycle spaces?”, 32% said yes, 34% said no, and the remaining 34% said it was not applicable to them.

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Figure 4.6.2 Car Parking Spaces

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Figure 4.6.3 Cost of Car Parking

Figure 4.6.4 Bicycle Spaces

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

4.7 - City Centre Transformation For the betterment of the city centre, it is important to outline what people perceive to be the city centre’s strengths and weaknesses.

When asked about the top things that work well in the city centre, the top 4 thematic areas include hospitality (bars & restaurants), appearing in 28% of responses, followed by outdoor amenities, appearing in 16% of responses, while the Milk Market and pedestrianized streets / outdoor dining are the 3rd and 4th most observed thing people like about the city centre appearing in 11% of responses respectively.

in 27% of responses, more leisure and recreational attractions with a non-alcohol focus were the second most frequent answer – appearing in 23% of responses.

The third highest option was improved public realm, i.e. cleanliness, green areas, etc.

Figure 4.7.1 Top things people like about the city centre

In response to “How satisfied are you with the city centre currently?”, 19% were neutral, 55% were dissatisfied, of which 11% were extremely dissatisfied, and 26% were satisfied; unfortunately, there were zero responses of very satisfied.

51% of respondents feel that the current plans for Limerick City Centre are not ambitious enough, 32% of respondents are unaware of the plans for the city centre, and just 17% feel that the current plans are ambitious enough. This outlines that stakeholders need to do a better job of not only promoting the city centre but also promoting tangible plans for the city centre while creating a more ambitious plan for the city.

Of the current plans that respondents were aware of, the Opera Centre, the World Class Waterfront Project and the University of Limerick’s City Campus are the top three projects respondents feel have the greatest potential to transform the city centre, appearing in 30%, 21% and 14% of responses respectively.

When asked, “Do you think the city centre has enough Trees, Greenspaces and Biodiversity?” 76% said they would like to see more, while the remaining 24% said yes – there is enough.

When asked about the areas that the city centre can improve to encourage respondents to visit the city centre more often, a more attractive and safer environment was the most frequent answer appearing

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Figure 4.7.2 How Satisfied People are with the city centre?

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Figure 4.7.3 City Centre Ambition

Figure 4.7.5 Greenery and Biodiversity

Figure 4.7.4 City Centre Projects

Figure 4.7.6 What would encourage people to visit the city centre more?

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4.8 – Perception of Safety

Figure 4.8.2 Perception of Safety

Unfortunately, the perception of safety in our survey was poor. Of course, this reflects the perception of safety, i.e. how safe a person feels, rather than the reality of their safety. Having said that, if a person feels unsafe in a location, they will be less likely to visit that location. However, a common ask throughout the survey through various questions was increased visible Garda presence in the city centre. Limerick Chamber recently met with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to discuss the need for increased Garda resources for the city centre. It is important to note here that Limerick Chamber and its members overwhelmingly support the Gardaí and realise the current issues are outside local Gardaí control and focus on funding and allocation of resources, which is centrally controlled.

When respondents were asked if they thought there was a sufficient garda presence in the city centre, the vast majority (87%) said there was not, while just 3% said there was a sufficient visible presence. Unfortunately, 50% of respondents outlined that they do not feel safe in the city centre, while 31% outlined that they do feel safe. 19% were neutral on the matter, outlining that they did not necessarily feel safe or unsafe.

Figure 4.8.1 Police Presence

4.9 - City Centre Health Check In 2017, the then Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI), now the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), released “A Framework for Town Centre Renewal”. The framework set out the key characteristics of a successful town centre. The framework was prepared for the Retail Consultation Forum, which was Chaired by the Minister at the time. The framework identified a three-stage process for town centre renewal: 1) Stakeholder engagement and health check, 2) Establish a town centre management partnership or “Town Team”, and 3) Prepare and implement a town centre plan. In comparison, we note that Limerick is indeed a city and not a town; however, many of the issues that towns and cities experience overlap. The health check indicators segment of the framework was particularly relevant to Limerick City Centre and thus was used as part of our survey to estimate people’s perception of the “health” of Limerick City Centre.

The health check indicators as part of the framework cover 12 areas.

•D iversity of Uses – How much space is in use for different functions such as commercial office space, retail space, other commercial uses, leisure, cultural,

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

entertainment, pubs, cafes, educational uses and housing.

restaurants,

hotels,

If yields are higher, more investors are likely to flock to a location.

•C ompetitive Offering – Is the current mix of retail stores offering choice to customers, and is there a need for more innovative retail offerings and services.

•P edestrian Flows – This indicator assesses the numbers and movement of people on the streets, in different parts of the centre at different times of the day and evening, who are available for businesses to attract to shops, restaurants, or other facilities.

•R epresentation – Essentially, this is similar to “competitive offering” but deals more at a high level with the diversity of a retail offering and how it changes over time.

•C ommercial Rents – This applied to a smaller sample of our survey as not everyone has experience with commercial rents. However, it is used to examine the pattern of movement in retail rates within primary shopping areas.

•A ccessibility – This indicator is used to assess the ease and convenience of access by a variety of modes of transport.

•P roportion of Vacant Street-Level Property – This indicator focused on the level of street-level vacant properties.

•E nvironmental Quality - This indicator assesses the physical condition of a town centre (e.g. clutter, litter, and graffiti) and the environmental attributes (e.g. quality of shopfronts, landscaping, and open spaces).

•P ublic Realm – This indicator assesses the quality of the public realm located in Limerick City Centre.

•C ustomer Views & Behaviour – This was not included as a standalone section in our survey as this indicator focused on encouraging the regular views and surveys of customers, which the survey attempted to find out.

•P erception of Safety & Occurrence of Crime – Focuses on crime and people’s feeling of safety.

•P erception of Safety & Occurrence of Crime – This indicator combines the views of survey respondents with regard to the safety of streets.

Unfortunately, 66% of respondents ranked Limerick City Centre as performing poorly with overall performance.

This was split into 22% performing very poorly and 43% performing somewhat poorly. On the other hand, 10% outlined that Limerick City Centre was performing well, with 9% outlining the city centre was performing somewhat well and 1% outlining that it was performing very well.

Out of the 11 healthcare check indicators used in our survey, 10 of those were ranked as performing somewhat poorly or very poorly. The only indicator that performed slightly better was the public realm, where 44% said it was performing poorly, 44% were neutral on performance, and 12% said it was performing well. This better score was driven by neutral rather than positive responses. All other indicators have more “poor” responses than “neutral” or “well”. This is a key concern.

The poorest performing indicators were Vacant Street Level Property (80% performing poorly), Competitiveness (80% performing poorly), Representation (77% performing poorly), and Perception of Safety and Crime (70% performing poorly).

The “well” performing indicators were Environmental Quality (20% performing well) and Pedestrian Flows (21% performing well).

•C ommercial Yields on Non-Domestic Property – This question was similar in a way to commercial rents, and thus, both indicators were combined into a single question. The difference between commercial rents and yields is that rents are what the tenant pays, and the yield is what the owner or investor receives.

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Fig 4.9.1 – High-Level Performance

Fig 4.9.2 – Detailed Performance

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5.0 – Themes & Recommendations 5.1 – Data Collection & Definitions 5.1.1 –Definition of City, City Centre & Suburbs There is a clear gap in how areas are defined in Ireland.

This is hampering targeted policy interventions. For example, in the case of Limerick, there is no clear definition of the city centre or the wider city. Oftentimes, Limerick City and Environs are used, which is largely the metropolitan area of Limerick. This definition extends far out into the suburbs in Raheen, Castletroy, and Coonagh and is not reflective of the actual city or the city centre. This is further exemplified in the National Planning Framework, which fails to adequately define what the area of Limerick City is – despite the goal of increasing the city population by 50% by 2040. It also influences development; a stated goal of Project Ireland 2040 is to densify city and urban centres; however, without an adequate boundary assessing performance, it is difficult as the existing scheme could see a large development towards Castletroy counting towards city or city centre metrics. Of course, the above also feeds into how the Central Statistics Office (CSO) produce data, and sometimes data at the city or city centre level is not possible, primarily because of data integrity.

R1

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / CSO

Clearly define the area that is ‘city centre.’

5.1.2 – Regular collection of data For adequate policymaking, data is critical. However, much of the data used in this Limerick Chamber City Centre Report will not be available at the city level until the next census. This makes assessing or even planning, any policy interventions incredibly difficult, and there needs to be a way to undertake more regular data collection.

However, there are other collection methods that stakeholders in the city are in control of. Two examples of these would be the regular use and publishing of surveys and footfall counters. Limerick Chamber undertakes consumer sentiment surveys and publishes the information; however, going forward, collaborating with other stakeholders to carry out city centre-focused surveys would be an efficient and optimal outcome.

Footfall counters are another way of examining impact in the city centre. We understand that Limerick City and County Council is currently working on building an infrastructure of footfall counters, which will see the rolling out of more counters in the coming weeks and months. The next phase of this project will be to publish the data online to create a public-facing dashboard. Limerick Chamber sees this data collection and transparency as a key step in revitalising the city centre, and we commend the local authority on bringing the initiative forward.

However, on a city-wide basis, we should not just stop at footfall counters; we also need to understand the impact of various transport modes in the city centre.

Certain traffic points are regularly set up in the suburbs to identify car use on certain roads. However, this is not done for the city centre. This should be regularly monitored to understand how the city is used by car users, as there is currently a knowledge gap in that regard. Along the same train of thought, we need to understand how many people are regularly using cycle lanes; however, we understand there may be measures included in some projects to estimate this. As Limericks City’s population continues to grow, transport is going to become more and more important in the coming years, and the knowledge and data this will bring is critical.

R2

City stakeholders

Collaborate to carry out city centre-focused surveys

R3

LCCC

Collate and publish footfall counter data (Underway)

R4

LCCC

Measure car, bike and pedestrian use within the city centre (Underway)

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5.1.3 – Key Data Indicators The CSO publish employment and unemployment figures at the regional level only (NUTS2 and NUTS3 Areas). This is due to the methodology and sample size.

Therefore, there is currently no reliable source that will tell policymakers an up-to-date picture of employment in Co. Limerick or, indeed, the city centre. This is a huge issue as looking at unemployment and employment at the regional level (Mid-West) may be masking issues at the county and city levels. A methodology and sample size must be constructed to ensure accurate, up-todate information for the labour market. This also needs to include the sector that people are working in (NACE codes), which is also only available at the regional level. However, there is regular data available for those on social welfare payments at the county level, although not everyone unemployed will be in receipt of a payment and without an overall working population size, the unemployment rate cannot be calculated.

R5

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Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / CSO

Another item where there is sub-optimal data collection is in earnings figures. Despite the granularity provided by the Census 2022 data in this report, no information or data was available for earnings at the city centre level. This gap in data could be hiding large elements of inequality or poverty, and without adequate data, constructing evidence-based policy to counteract these issues is almost impossible. While there is reporting of disposable income at the county level, this is lagged by almost two years (i.e. 2020 data becomes available in 2022) and does not provide an indepth look at city locations.

We suggest that the Government launch a joint initiative with the CSO whereby it will see the undertaking of a special operation designed to not only define cities and city centres but also to provide regular up-to-date key performance economic data indicators. It is also an apt time to support such an initiative, given the impending review of the National Planning Framework.

Commence key data collection for regional cities identified in Project Ireland 2040, including data on earnings.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.1.4 – Limerick Economic Forum (LEF)

5.1.6 – Residential Demand Assessment

The LEF was established in 2013 and consists of individuals who are from Limerick or with a strong connection to Limerick and have come together in a voluntary capacity to provide expertise to Limerick City and County Council. The LEF is a worthwhile initiative; however, we recommend that the LEF be in the position to carry out key research projects for the purpose of better understanding the city centre and wider areas.

This would mean providing the LEF with an annual research stipend that they could use to commission research.

Our Census 2022 Analysis and survey data provide information on how more people can be encouraged to live in the city centre. Currently, it is skewed towards younger generations. However, if we want to encourage more “all-day” footfall, one of the key aspects is increasing the number of people that live in the city centre and surrounding area. However, a better understanding of what those people and families require that will encourage them to move into the city centre or else stay living there for longer is needed.

Data suggests that they will need bigger homes to live in for larger families, as well as buildings that have either ground floor or lift access accommodation for elderly people, as well as amenities for children in the locality.

R6

LCCC

LEF should be mandated / resourced to carry out key research projects

R8 5.1.5 – Office Space Demand Assessment Limerick is currently bringing forward many worthwhile commercial office space opportunities. It is important to know the long-term demand for office space once these developments are complete. We must learn from Dublin’s mistakes where they may have overdeveloped office space at the expense of residential space, and now, with the market in Dublin cooling, there is the potential for a cliff edge. Having said that, Limerick has been through many years where new commercial space was not delivered, and the current pipeline is unlikely to over-saturate the market. However, it is important to know what demand will look like in the longer-term after existing buildings are finished and occupied.

As part of this assessment, it would be added value to understand the additional office space that could be brought forward by taking advantage of existing space in Georgian buildings and overhead shops, which are not possible to convert to residential.

R7

LCCC

Conduct an assessment of office / commercial space demand

LCCC / LDA / ESRI / CSO

There needs to be a greater understanding of actual demand. All demand assessments to date exclude pent-up demand, which massively understates actual demand. Furthermore, we need to understand what people want and need from homes in the city centre.

5.2 – Safety 5.2.1 – Increase Garda Presence A longstanding piece of feedback from both Limerick Chamber members and non-members is the need for more on-the-beat visible policing. Both Limerick Chamber and our members are supportive of the Gardaí in carrying out their pivotal role in society.

However, we also understand they are constrained by resources outside their control. In the long-term, it is the Government’s responsibility to increase attraction and retention in the police force, as well as funding it to a level where it can continue to keep society safe.

There are measures in the short-term which could be implemented to increase the visible presence.

We understand that there are currently 18 Gardaí working in the Court House on Mulgrave Street

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

(2 Sergeants and 16 Gardaí). Limerick Chamber has continually called for these Gardaí to be released from court duty so that they can be reallocated to visible policing roles. Other court services in Ireland reportedly use private security to carry out the roles Gardaí once did.

Limerick Chamber urges Government and decisionmakers to consider population and demographics as a key factor when planning for resource allocation in the future. Currently, the allocation is primarily decided on need rather than a certain level of Gardaí per capita.

R9

R10

Dept.

Justice / IPS / An Garda Siochana

Dept.

Justice / An Garda Siochana

Resource Mulgrave Street Court House security requirements differently in order to return Gardai to Limerick division for assignment to other duties.

Take population growth and demographics into consideration when deciding on the allocation of Garda resources.

5.2.2 – Reporting Crimes Reporting crime is critical. This is important for a number of reasons. Crime reporting is represented in CSO data.

Furthermore, the way the current Gardaí allocation system works is that CSO data and figures collected inform decisions on future Garda resource allocation.

However, we understand that businesses dealing with crime more often can become fatigued from continually reporting where they perceive little tangible outcome.

Therefore, Limerick Chamber will begin an initiative of outlining to members, on a regular basis, why it is important to report. However, the business community is only one aspect of life in Limerick, and we encourage other stakeholders, including Limerick City and County Council, to keep people informed as to why it is important to report crime.

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R11

Limerick Chamber / relevant stakeholders

Develop a campaign to remind and encourage member businesses to log all instances of crime and explain why it matters.

5.2.3 – All-agency Approach While An Garda Síochána has an essential role in our society, it is important to note that their work cannot be done alone or in isolation. It is critical that other agencies and support services are part of the implementation of plans, particularly with regard to the availability of support services in the evening / outside of office hours. Often, due to the lack of out-of-hours support for homelessness, mental health, child and family and addiction issues, Gardaí are left unsupported to deal with vulnerable people overnight and at weekends when other social services would likely be more appropriate. In addition to being an inappropriate response to the needs of a vulnerable person, this also occupies Garda time, which could be spent elsewhere in crime prevention. Increased inter-agency cooperation and services should be made available, especially in the evening. As it stands, when the actions of vulnerable people impact the operations of businesses, there is nobody else to call but the Gardaí. However, it is of critical importance that there is a person or organisation with the responsibility to drive this approach and carry out evidence-based research into the other types of services and resource power that are required for this “all-agency” approach.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

R12

Dept. Justice / Dept. Children / An Garda Siochana / Relevant agencies

In consultation with local stakeholders & relevant agencies, develop all agency approach for enhanced support for vulnerable individuals.

5.3 – Housing & Development 5.3.1 – Renovate Limerick From May 2023, the Government introduced a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 for the refurbishment of a vacant property; for a property that is declared derelict, the total grant can be increased to €70,000. There is significant potential for this scheme, especially given the number of vacant homes in the city centre. There are three qualifying criteria; • Have proof of ownership or evidence of active negotiations to buy the property (that is, confirmation of engagement from the estate agent or owner of the property) where you are seeking approval in principle for a grant.

• Live in the property as your principal private residence or make it available for rent.

documents needed to verify the vacancy are received by the local authority, the listing can then be featured on the Renovate Limerick database. This is a database listing properties for sale which qualify as ‘vacant’ for prospective buyers to consider and what level of funding a property may qualify for. Once a potential owner clicks on a “verified as vacant” property, it redirects the potential owner to the estate agent’s website, where the regular process comes into play, e.g. agreeing on a viewing with the estate agent. However, we would urge that for people to gain access to the portal, they must first register for an account, considering the potential to identify unoccupied homes, which could become a target for anti-social behaviour.

Ultimately, the purpose of this portal is to bring all vacant homes to one place to make it easier and more attractive for potential buyers. Eventually, it could also be used as a hub for SEAI and other grants, as well as a place where owners could share progress updates and finished photos of homes to encourage idea sharing and a social aspect of renovating a home in Limerick.

What this would require is preliminary work from estate agents and local authorities to liaise and have a home verified as vacant prior to advertisement.

• Have proof that the property has been vacant for at least two years and that it was built up to and including 2007.

For the prospective buyer, there is an element of risk that can be eliminated or reduced with these three criteria. Oftentimes, when a potential owner is viewing a property, there is no solid indication that a home will qualify for the grant or that it qualifies as vacant.

What we propose is that the estate agent liaises with the local authority regarding the vacant property status by providing the local authority with the necessary documents that outline that the property is indeed vacant. This should allow for a fast-tracked process.

Once the property has been verified as vacant and

R13

Estate Agents / LCCC

Collaborate with stakeholders to establish a ‘fast track’ system for declaring a property ‘vacant’ and develop a portal / database listing of said qualifying properties for prospective buyers / investors in the renovation project.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.3.2 – Living Cities Initiative (LCI) The LCI has significant potential. However, it has yet to achieve its desired results at scale. In the past, Limerick Chamber has made the LCI a cornerstone of its work in housing advocacy for the city centre. At its core, the LCI provides tax relief to both residential and commercial property refurbishment and conversion work for buildings built before 1915. This is critical for Limerick City Centre, given the stock of older homes as outlined in our Census 2022 update and provides significant potential in bringing more people to live in the city centre. However, there are several barriers that make the LCI unattractive and cumbersome to avail of. What is interesting about the LCI is that it is a temporary measure, i.e. there is a limited stock of older properties.

Once these are refurbished and occupied, there will no longer be a requirement for the scheme.

• Limerick Chamber has recommended that the date of construction of buildings be brought forward. If that date was brought forward to homes built pre-1919, the LCI would cover approximately 600 households. If it was brought forward to homes built before 1945, it would cover approximately 800 households.

• We have also advocated for the owner to be able to claim relief while works are underway and not wait until they move into the home. Some of these projects are substantial and have a lengthy lead-in time; allowing owners to claim the relief earlier will boost affordability.

• The relief can’t be passed on to new owners; this can break the chain of ownership and may make it unattractive to owners as they think they might not be able to sell it in the future due to the cost. However, if the remaining tax relief was able to be passed on, the original owner would recoup costs, and the new owner would be helped with affordability.

• Owners can only use the scheme once. What we have found from engaging with people who carried out these renovation projects is that they do them in stages, e.g. the owner might renovate the first two floors of a home and live in them and save until they

44

have enough money to renovate the next two floors.

However, they will not be able to apply for the scheme again to finish off the final two floors. This must be changed.

• Finance is a core issue for these projects as, most of the time, the final price of the building, purchase price plus renovations, exceeds what a bank would value the building at. However, there is scope for Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) and or a shared equity local authority home loan can bridge the finance gap here that other pillar banks can't, in the name of preserving built heritage.

If you would like to read our full scope of changes for Living Cities, please see our Budget 2024 submission.

R14

Dept.

Finance

A review of LCI to address impediments to access / drawdown as outlined.

R15

Dept.

Finance

Extend LCI to be available to all homes pre-1945 to include more properties in the city centre.

5.3.3 – Maintaining Buildings & Aesthetics Maintaining the outside aesthetics of commercial and residential buildings is critical in making the city nicer and more attractive. From our city centre survey, the fifth highest reason for people not wanting to live in the city centre was that they deemed it unclean and rundown. There is an element of personal responsibility here for building owners. Many of the building owners in the city centre are private owners and thus a programme (or regulations) needs to be introduced that encourages both the maintenance of the outside of a building and its cleanliness.

Luckily, there is a baseline to work from. Cork City Council have introduced a “Painting Grant Scheme”.

This grant scheme is open to residential and commercial property owners. Successful applicants are awarded

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

50% of the costs of qualifying improvement works (painting, minor repair works to rendering, gutters, downpipes, cleaning) up to a maximum value of €1,500 per building. Corner buildings with two facades may be eligible for funding up to €2,500 per building. If ten or more adjacent buildings come together, a grant of 60% can be provided. We suggest that Limerick City and County Council introduce a similar scheme for the city centre while also designing a minimum standard for building maintenance and cleanliness, which should be enforced.

There is also a blight affecting most buildings in the city centre that adds to the unclean and rundown aesthetics, and that is the large array of cables and wires on the front of buildings. This is particularly evident when looking at heritage properties. We ask that Limerick City and County Council engage with the ESB to run a pilot project to begin moving, removing, or hiding these wires, starting with heritage buildings in the Georgian core of the city centre. The same holds true for catenary wires crossing streetscapes, which add to an unclean and disheveled aesthetic.

5.3.4 – Signage and Store Fronts Limerick lacks a strategy for dealing with commercial business signage by imposing rules and regulations on what type of signage can be fixed to the front of commercial premises. The current laissez-faire approach contributes to a disjointed and rundownlooking city centre. We understand that calls to address this issue have been previously made by some councillors; however, to date, a strategy or guidance has not been published.

Limerick City and County Council need to devise a strategy and guidelines for business signage, ensuring consistency in improving the aesthetics of the city centre. Secondly, Limerick City and County Council should introduce a scheme, again, similar to Cork City Council, whereby tenants or owners of buildings can avail of a grant of up to 50% of the cost of replacing existing signs with “Heritage Type Signs”. A similar

R16

LCCC / Stakeholders

Introduce a ‘Painting Grant Scheme’ similar to that in place with Cork City Council.

R17

LCCC / Stakeholders

Introduce a project to remove/hide / tidy external wires on heritage buildings and catenary wires crossing core streets.

scheme was launched in Cobh, part of Cork County Council, whereby they outlined that “Signage contributes to the vibrancy of streets creating a sense of identity and place, adding interest to a façade and defining frontages of buildings. Poorly designed, inappropriately coloured, oversized or badly sited signs can create clutter and have a negative visual impact, while a well-designed and located sign can create richness.”

However, commercial signage should not be limited to retail stores. The below example from Norway shows how municipalities have expanded signage strategies to all types of commercial buildings, whereby the sign is designed to blend in with the building and ensure consistency across signage.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council also established a broader encompassing “Shop Front Improvement Scheme” with the aim of improving the overall appearance of commercial properties that front to public streets with a particular emphasis on buildings that reside in areas with considerable impact and influence on the character of a place. This scheme appears to focus on the design of shop fronts and facades rather than solely painting and decorating.

Assistance under this scheme is limited to 50% of the costs up to a maximum of €5,000 per annum. Dublin City Council have similar schemes whereby the painting and maintenance aspect is combined with a shop front refurbishment aspect. South Dublin, Laois, Wexford, Waterford and Meath all have shopfront improvement grants.

Limerick has a grant that helps with the fit-out of new retail; however, it is intended to address vacancy and improved streetscapes and encourage new businesses through the relief of annual rates liability. It does not appear to focus on existing business or the aesthetics of a commercial building front.

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R18

LCCC

Introduce commercial building signage regulations to ensure uniformity of style/quality of city centre signage.

R19

LCCC / Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Introduce a ‘Signage improvement grant’ for existing businesses to replace external signage, similar to the scheme introduced by Cork City Council.

R20

LCCC / Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Introduce the ‘Shop Front Improvement Scheme’ for existing businesses in the city centre, similar to that introduced by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

5.3.5 – “All Life” Accommodation There is a clear need for residential accommodation in the city centre, both in the form of rental accommodation and accommodation for purchase.

This is supported by Limerick Chamber’s monthly rental monitor, which shows, on average, less than seven homes available to rent in the city centre per month.

Furthermore, Census 2022 data shows that home ownership is low in the city centre. Limerick Chamber has long been advocates for more homes in the city, and we feel this is a surefire way to ensure businesses in the city will continue to flourish into the future. However, what the census and survey data tell us is that those living in the city centre are normally smaller and younger households. Survey data backs this up with some people outlining they don’t have the accommodation space they would need in the city centre. If we want this to change, for the city to be a place where you can grow old and raise a family, then increasing availability of larger homes (apartments or houses) must be considered in the future, within the confines of density requirements.

That means building larger accommodations for private

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

owners and renters who want to raise families but also introducing private age-friendly accommodation to the city centre. This will help to counteract the current demographic and age skew of the city centre and is something the Local Authority, Planners, Developers and Builders should be mindful of.

There are other schemes that could be tweaked to provide a broader range of housing options in the city centre. For example, the buy and renew schemes see local authorities buy and renew vacant homes for occupancy for social housing, and the repair and leasing scheme where property is renovated for long-term leasing of social housing. While these programmes have merit, they should be expanded to include affordable worker housing in conjunction with social housing.

We encourage both Limerick City and County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to expand these schemes to ensure a diverse tenure mix remains in the city centre, where affordability is at its core.

R21

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop a policy to support the delivery of larger homes in city centres to facilitate a greater tenure mix and increased occupancy.

R22

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Introduce targets for affordable housing (worker housing) in city centres via the repair and leasing scheme or a buy and renew scheme.

trending upward. However, the vacancy rate in the city is higher than the whole county average. We also need to be mindful that many, if not all, of these premises are in private control, and there is a limited level of policy instruments that can be used to discourage vacancy.

Regardless, it needs to be addressed.

R23

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop ‘carrot & stick’ policies to support occupancy and productive use of vacant commercial properties in city centres.

R24

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop policy for ‘meanwhile’ use of vacant commercial properties in city centres.

Fig 5.3.4.1 – Commercial Vacancy

5.3.6 – Commercial Vacancy GeoDirectory regularly tracks commercial vacancies across the county. Commercial vacancy is stubbornly high in the city. Where almost one-quarter of commercial premises are vacant, this has been trending upward for the last several years. Similarly, for the county as a whole, commercial vacancies have also been

Commercial Vacancy needs a two-pronged approach.

Firstly, we need to examine what can be done to get buildings and spaces occupied; secondly, we need to examine how we can make these spaces look nicer and more inviting in the interim.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Reducing Vacancy Limerick City and County Council have a scheme whereby if a commercial property is vacant, there can be a write-off in commercial rates; the level of write-offs is outlined in the table below. Limerick is alone when compared to other city local authorities. Cork, Galway and Waterford have flat reduction rates. Meanwhile, Limerick has a tiered reduction whereby the smaller the premises, the larger the reduction. In November 2022, Dublin City Council passed a resolution where there will be a 0% reduction for vacant property commercial rates, i.e. the building owner pays 100% rates, whether it is vacant or not.

Existing schemes for rates write-off for vacant premises by local authority:

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Dublin City

100% of the commercial rate is payable on the property

Cork City

50% of the commercial rate is payable on the property

Limerick City

A tiered structure where landlords are liable for between 50% and 90% of commercial rates

Galway City

63.5% of the commercial rate is payable on the property

Waterford City

60% of the commercial rate is payable on the property

There are three potential options going forward in Limerick to tackle vacancy.

The first is tweaking the existing system (option 1), where there is a decreased write-off amount and allocating the additional revenue gained to be ringfenced for property maintenance and aesthetic improvements to the outside of the building.

The second option (option 2) is to adopt the same resolution as Dublin City Council, whereby there is no reduction in rates payable for vacant properties.

The third option (option 3) is providing the building owner with a full rate write-off for the time that a space is used as a cultural space or start-up space for new businesses. This should be a scheme coordinated by local authorities where they can place cultural events or start-up pop-ups in vacant premises. The user of the premises would be liable for the running costs of the space while using the premises and can be removed with one month’s notice from the landlord. i.e. if the space is used for a full 12 months, no rates are liable on the property, and the user covers running costs; if the space is used for three months, 75% rates are due on the property with the user covering running costs. The selling point of this approach is the building owners can continue to look for long-term tenants while decreasing their rates liability as well as potential running costs, and start-ups or cultural events are only liable for running costs, making spaces more affordable and attractive.

Currently, there is an unfair balance whereby tenants and building owners that are in operation and look after their premises pay full rates, however, a building owner that has a vacant building can let it fall into disrepair and pay a reduced rate. This harms the trade of nearby businesses by making the street look rundown and unclean, which is the feedback received in our survey.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Existing and proposed scheme for rates write-off (Limerick): Commercial Rate Write off / Grant Band (Existing Scheme)

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Up to €11,888 Annual Rate Demand

50% write-off/ 35% write-off/ Liable for 100% rates grant of annual rate grant of annual rate demand amount demand amount on that property for city centre subject to Terms and properties only.

Conditions - Payment With new additional of 50% required with 15% to be used for this application cleaning, maintaining, and improving the aesthetics of the vacant unit

Full write-off available for time used as cultural / start-up space

€11,889 to €59,590 Annual Rate Demand

25% write-off/ 15% write-off/ Liable for 100% rates grant of annual rate grant of annual rate demand amount on demand amount that property subject for city centre to certain Terms and properties only.

Conditions - Payment With new additional of 75% required with 10% to be used for this application cleaning, maintaining, and improving the aesthetics of the vacant unit

Full write-off available for time used as cultural / start-up space

€59,591 and over

10% write-off/ 5% write-off/grant of Liable for 100% rates grant of annual rate annual rate demand demand amount on amount for city that property subject centre properties to certain Terms and only. With new Conditions - Payment additional 5% to be of 90% required with used for cleaning, this application maintaining, and improving the aesthetics of the vacant unit

100% of the commercial rate is payable on the property

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

As the business and economic environment continue to change quickly, it is likely that the financial relationship between owners and landlords must change. Many organisations are moving to a turnover-based system whereby rents are charged on the basis of turnover rather than a flat rate; this allows businesses more flexibility when setting up. Furthermore, many leases are often too long with too stringent conditions, which can be counterproductive when trying to encourage new businesses and entrepreneurs. However, there are pros and cons to all aspects of a tenant and landlord relationship. Currently, interest rates might be causing landlords to seek a higher rate for their mortgaged property, which businesses are not able to pay in rent due to increased costs of doing business. This creates a perfect storm where the premises are left idle due to costs, and businesses can't set up due to costs and lack of appropriate space. Furthermore, there is scope for landlords to include rates, maintenance charges and utilities in bills, which will give businesses a clearer line of sight on monthly costs and also make tenants less likely to leave outstanding bills with landlords.

Aesthetics of Vacancy:

Other cities have successfully used community ownership as a way to combat vacancy and dereliction.

This works by using right-to-buy laws to force vacant or derelict properties back to the market, where they can be bought by community groups and other organisations.

Limerick Chamber produces a plethora of research relating to housing across Limerick and, indeed, the Mid-West. While housing is beyond the in-depth scope of this report, we encourage readers to view our other publications: Mid-West Economic Insights, Monthly Rental Monitor, Short-term Letting Report and our Budget 2024 submission. Combining existing research with research undertaken as part of this report gives us some key insights into how the housing market is working in the city centre and what is required to improve it.

R25

R26

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LCCC

City centre building owners

Review current guidelines regarding commercial rate write-offs for vacant properties in the city centre. Adopt a carrot/ stick approach to support occupancy Offer flexible leases and rates inclusive of business essentials (bins, broadband, electricity) to support greater occupancy of vacant commercial spaces in the city centre.

Unfortunately, the vacancy in Limerick is obvious. In addition to the measures outlined previously, measures should be developed to tackle the visual impact of vacancy. Tweaks to how a premises look can work wonders for the cityscape, visitors and surrounding businesses. There needs to be rules implemented in the city centre on how building owners can display their vacant premises. One suggestion we received in the survey was collaborating with local artists to display work on vacant premises windows, which adds to the vibrancy of the city.

R27

LCCC / City centre building owners

Develop guidelines for the presentation of vacant commercial premises so as to minimize the impact of vacancy on other businesses.

5.3.7 – Worker Housing & City Development

• While Limerick City Centre is heavily focused on rental accommodation currently, there is still not enough rental in the city centre. Our monthly rental monitor shows single-digit availability for rentals in the city centre over the last 18 months (9 or fewer homes) while prices are increasing.

• Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency need to expedite the provision of cost-rental homes in the city centre.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

• Added value would be engaging with a large-scale built-to-rent developer who can further invest in building homes for the private rental market in Limerick.

• New developments in the city centre must also have an element of home purchase, be it affordable or private; the current demographics of the city centre show an extremely low percentage of people living in the city centre own their own homes (just 7% own their own homes in the city centre).

• As outlined, there are tweaks that should be made to the Living Cities initiative and building regulations if the city is to take advantage of the potential for living in older stock of homes.

• Tenure mix in the city centre and wider areas needs to be largely focused on and frontloaded with affordable worker housing, given the underdelivery (no delivery) of affordable homes in Limerick over the last number of years.

• Critical sites, such as the old gas networks / Ervia site, need to begin the master planning process immediately; there are a number of critical sites that have been lying idle for some time that could be used for housing and given the long lead-in time work needs to begin as a matter of urgency.

• We need to ensure that the provision of social services is not too concentrated on one area and is

spread around the city to ensure a larger catchment and possible prevention of spillover issues becoming entrenched in one single neighbourhood.

Hamburg’s most recent integrated urban strategy is entitled ‘Green, inclusive, growing city by the water: Perspectives on urban development in Hamburg’ (2014).

In this, Hamburg has outlined urban development plans to deal with the projected population increases along four themes: ‘More City in the City’, ‘Inclusive City’, ‘Green and environmentally friendly City’, and ‘Urban development in the industrial city’. Hamburg is committed to sustainable urban development, making more efficient use of the spaces within the existing built environment and not encroaching on the surrounding landscape. Hamburg thus focuses on internal development rather than expansion. The strategy is based on mixed-use development to create a compact city - dedicated to its internal development and enhancing the city to offer a high quality of life.

Hamburg has considerable policy-making autonomy.

The city has taken control of its future development by not just auctioning off parts of the city to the highest bidder but granting it to people who have the most interesting concepts that align with the four main themes. This more selective strategy has the future of Hamburg’s environmental, social, and economic sustainability at the heart of the decisionmaking process and ultimately aims to help develop an appealing, diverse and sustainable city.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

R28

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / LCCC Executive and LCCC Metro Councilors

City centre-specific tenure mix policy should be introduced with higher Affordable Housing and private ownership targets in order to address the current imbalance in city centre tenure.

R29

Agencies of the State

Expedite the provision of cost-rental / affordable purchase homes in the city centre to support the sustainability of existing businesses.

R30

LCCC

Introduce a policy to ensure all city centre developments have a component of private or affordable purchase to increase the overall rate of home ownership in Limerick city centre.

R31

LCCC / Agencies of the State

Location of social services in the city centre should not be overly concentrated in one area and should be spread around to dilute any negative impacts on the working / living / investment environment.

5.3.8 – Over-the-shop living The potential for over-the-shop living has long been discussed in Ireland; however, no sufficient policy has been implemented to date that would make it easier to convert over-the-shop (or other commercial premises) into residential space. There are underutilised spaces over many commercial premises in the city centre, that if used for homes, could see a new layer of vibrancy and “all-day” footfall added to the city centre, which will not only help to boost local retail but also help to regenerate the entire city. One of the primary barriers to over-theshop living is building controls and regulations, namely those that govern fire, disabled access and energy. To make use of this significant stock, there needs to be a balance that is workable and achievable while still adhering to tenant safety. The current status quo is to do nothing and watch these buildings and spaces fall into further disrepair, which will mean more money will be spent in the future to renovate these buildings, or else, a worse scenario is they may eventually be demolished. A sensible approach is needed towards these regulations, as can be seen all over Europe. In conjunction with this, mechanisms like the Living Cities Initiative and others could be tweaked to ensure that making these spaces homes are viable. It is likely that

52

the costs for these schemes and programmes will not be as much as the cost of building a new home, which is the other alternative that the Government may have to do in lieu of renovating these spaces. Many of the spaces overhead shops or offices were traditionally used for housing, meaning they do not normally require any additional infrastructure such as connections to water, drainage, and utilities.

The government, through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, need a national strategy to turn these underutilised spaces into homes, which could result in different planning regulations for key areas.

R32

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Review barriers to occupancy over the shop.

Develop a national strategy and introduce planning and building control exemptions for city centres to support over-the-shop living while ensuring tenant safety.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.3.9 – Strategic Business Areas Some existing research has indicated that Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have worked in other countries. BIDs are defined areas in which businesses pay an additional tax to fund services such as street cleaning, security, public realm improvements and marketing. However, this can sometimes unfairly increase the cost burden on businesses that already pay rates to the local authority in addition to several other forms of tax to cover these services and must be approached carefully.

There is merit in the idea of developing Strategic Business Areas (SBAs) whereby the local authority and existing businesses would come together to produce a plan for their own street or area and how the area could improve, and the necessary improvements cost while exploring potential funding mechanisms. This could be first trialed and then expanded to other areas of the city if it proved successful.

SBAs will enforce the point that it is not just the Local Authority that has a responsibility to develop an area, but this should be done with existing businesses and property owners so that they can provide their lived experience as to what intervention the area might need.

R33

LCCC / Stakeholders

Develop a pilot ‘Strategic Business Area’ at an appropriate city centre location to trial measures to enhance footfall.

5.4 – Cleanliness 5.4.1 – Regular Cleaning The cleanliness of the city is vital for a multitude of reasons.; it creates a more attractive and inviting environment for residents and visitors. It promotes public health, accessibility, and even economic growth as it attracts businesses, tourists and consumers to the area.

Finally, it fosters a sense of pride and well-being amongst Limerick people, which helps create social norms and a positive reputation for Limerick City Centre. There is a

huge element of personal responsibility when it comes to people looking after the city centre and not littering.

Therefore, we encourage the local authority to regularly carry out anti-littering campaigns. However, cities, due to their nature, become unclean. We understand in recent months, since the finishing of the O’Connell Street Project, that cleaning has become more regular.

We commend the local authority on this but encourage a more all-encompassing cleaning strategy for the city.

Chewing gum stuck to paving is a significant problem, and cleaning should address this, as well as working with people to cease dumping gum on the ground. In fact, there is merit in working with retailers to stop the sale of gum in the city centre. Singapore has had a gum ban since the early 1990s and is historically one of the cleanest countries in the world. Limerick Chamber would work with Limerick City and County Council to encourage retailers in the city centre to stop the sale of gum. Of course, there is always the potential for people to bring gum with them; however, perhaps limiting the sale in the city centre could help counteract the serious effect it has on the public realm when not disposed of correctly.

R34

LCCC

Increase frequency of cleaning of key streets in the city centre.

R35

LCCC / Stakeholders

Consider the introduction of a ban on the sale of chewing gum in city centre outlets.

5.4.2 – Bin Storage for Businesses Bin storage for businesses is an element of cleanliness that has gone under the radar of many. Given businesses have a greater demand for bin storage and the possibility of overflow at peak seasons, bin storage in the city centre needs to be addressed efficiently in terms of space management, cleanliness, accessibility and safety.

This can likely be complete with communal covered bin storage for businesses, especially businesses that normally store their bins in laneways. This can create a more inviting and cleaner streetscape.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

As noted in Limerick Chamber’s ‘Submission on Limerick Divisional Policing Plan 2023’, alleyways are poorly lit and cluttered with overflows of bins and waste, which leads to delivery disruptions and problems of accessibility and has become conducive to anti-social behaviour. Introducing bin storage like what is seen in the image above would increase visibility and accessibility and make it less conducive to anti-social behaviour. Finally, bin storage units can be decorated like walls and could more seamlessly be incorporated into the aesthetic of a street. We encourage the local authority to begin working with businesses in relation to integrating bin storage into laneways and streetscapes.

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LCCC / Stakeholders

Introduce bin storage units for commercial and residential buildings on key streets and laneways in the city centre.

5.4.3 - Decluttering Strategy Limerick City Centre is riddled with signage that makes the experience of walking the streets cluttered, and the signs are obtrusive. Limerick City and County Council have appointed a contractor, and that contractor is now on site. A signage survey was carried out in March 2023, and the findings were reviewed prior to the contractor going on-site. There was also a public consultation on the signage plan. This is a positive step forward.

However, in the longer-term, we would also encourage performing an audit of electricity wires and cables on key streets and examine how these could be hidden or removed in conjunction with the ESB.

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LCCC

Introduce bin storage units for commercial and residential buildings on key streets and laneways in the city centre.

5.5 Transport 5.5.1 – City Centre Mobility / Transport / Delivery Plan One of the primary issues reported by our members is the lack of a coherent mobility / transport plan for the city centre. Limerick Chamber has continually called for such a plan. It is imperative that as part of BusConnects that a mobility / transport plan for the city centre is brought forward, combining a delivery plan with a traffic management plan. This is something that Limerick Chamber members based in the city centre feel is of critical importance to enterprise. There are several public construction projects and plans which were underway and further ones planned, which will cause an element of disruption to business operations, and the feeling amongst members is that a disjointed approach to development and transport infrastructure is not compatible with a stable environment to do business.

We understand that the NTA has released funding in this regard to carry out a study in relation to mobility in the city centre, and we welcome the commitment within BusConnects to undertake this study in 2023 prior to the implementation of BusConnects; however, Limerick Chamber feels that this should be undertaken in conjunction with BusConnects to ensure that there is harmony between all aspects of transport for the city centre. For example, under the draft BusConnects plan, people were asked their views on O’Connell Street as a two-way transport corridor without any further details on how this will influence smaller streets such as Roches St. / Shannon St., Cecil St. / Lower Cecil St. / Glentworth St. and Lower Glentworth St. This is why it is important to bring a detailed mobility / transport plan and BusConnects forward together in a co-designed approach.

Thankfully, Limerick does not have the congestion and traffic issues that Dublin, Cork and Galway have (not yet), and we must ensure that an adequate transport and mobility plan is in place.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

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NTA / LCCC

Bring forward the planned mobility study for Limerick city ahead of the finalisation of the Limerick BusConnects strategy so as to better inform key decisions being taken on changes to street / bridge usage.

5.5.2 – Parking Enforcement Limerick City is plagued by illegal and dangerous parking.

Limerick Chamber is fully behind efforts by Limerick City and County Council to decrease illegal parking as well as the hard work undertaken by traffic wardens to enforce rules. However, more work needs to be done.

Illegal parking creates a totally unsafe environment for car users, other road users and pedestrians – especially when the illegal parking takes place on a corner and obscures views at crossings and crossroads.

Furthermore, illegal parking is increasing congestion, whereby a person parks in a loading bay or a bus stop, which forces a delivery van or bus to stop in an area that is not normally dedicated for their use. This normally leads to blockages on the road. There are also instances where people illegally parking on footpaths can block pedestrian access on footpaths and negatively impact those in wheelchairs, mobility scooters and people with prams.

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LCCC / Stakeholders

Develop ‘carrot and stick’ measures to support a reduction in illegal parking.

As well as continually perform information campaigns (Underway).

5.5.3 – Bus Stop & Loading Bay Renewal In conjunction with parking enforcement, there needs to be a review of both bus stops and loading bays in the city centre to measure their efficacy and how fit for purpose they are. Taking Roches Street as an example, where there is a bus stop flanked by a loading bay and

general parking. When the loading bay is occupied (normally by illegal parking), and the general parking is occupied, there isn’t sufficient room for buses to pull in, and this often results in buses halting on the street to allow passengers to alight / board, which causes traffic congestion. This is not the fault of the bus driver, but it is caused by both illegal parking and lack of sufficient space. Therefore, a review in this instance would likely find that the bus stop is too small.

Again, focusing on Roches Street as an example, it is a busy street for deliveries. Oftentimes, delivery vans and trucks do not have adequate space to pull in because the loading bays are too small or may be occupied by illegal parking, thus causing delivery drivers to park in an area that is not designated for them, thus making deliveries of essential items more difficult for businesses.

We ask both Limerick City and County Council and the NTA when carrying out the city centre mobility / transport plan that they account for these issues.

Roches Street is used as an example in this instance as it is one of the main arteries for traffic in the city and is oftentimes congested due to parking issues. However, such issues can be replicated across the city.

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LCCC

As part of the ‘Delivery strategy’ under the Transport and Mobility Plan, review the appropriateness of existing on-street parking designations at key locations, taking into consideration national policies in support of increased public and active transport usage. As well as assess the efficacy of the size of bus stops and delivery bays with the view to expansion.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.5.4 – Improved Crossways Limerick needs to become safer and more friendly to pedestrians, who are the footfall drivers for businesses.

Limerick Chamber welcomes the completion of the works on O’Connell Street. However, there are small tweaks required to make it safer and more accessible for pedestrians.

• A pedestrian crossing must be installed at the junction of Thomas Street, O’Connell Street and Bedford Row. Previously, there were lights at this isntersection, which facilitated pedestrians walking through the area. However, this has since been removed.

• T he “Middle section” of O’Connell Steet is devoid of safe crossings for pedestrians. That is the area from the intersection of Roches Street, Shannon Street and O’Connell Street. The next pedestrian crossway is at the intersection of Mallow / Lower Mallow Street and O’Connell Street, 270 metres between safe crossing points.

Following this, an audit must be carried out of safe crossing points in the city centre to identify any gaps where crossing points must be introduced. However, in the interim, we suggest that immediate action be taken for two crossing points mentioned above on O’Connell Street.

The below example could be implemented at the Bedford Row / Thomas Street Junction, the Cecil Street and Lower Cecil Street Junction, as well as the junction of Glentworth Street and Lower Glentworth Street.

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LCCC / NTA

An audit should be carried out of safe crossing points in the city centre to identify gaps where crossing points should be introduced.

5.5.5 – Bicycle Storage There is an obvious lack of safe, secure and covered bicycle storage / parking in the city centre. If Limerick is to reach its modal share goals as outlined in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy, safer bicycle parking must be introduced. Furthermore, as the city and its population continue to grow, cycling will become more and more important as a means of travel. 34% of people in our survey outlined that the city centre does not have enough bicycle parking.

However, there is ample space in the city centre where nodes of secure bicycle parking could be introduced as it does not require the large amounts of space that car spaces require. For example, Dublin City Council’s (DCC) “BikeBunkers” stores 4 to 6 bicycles within a relatively small footprint – approximately the size of one car. As per DCC, “BikeBunkers are secure hangars for city residents to securely stow their bicycles close to their home and undercover, saving space and worry, and for just €100 per year.” However, if implemented in Limerick, the use of BikeBunkers could be expanded to provide safe and secure storage for not just residents but all city centre users. DCC also sees the service changing and growing over the coming years based on user feedback.

We would encourage Limerick City and County Council to bring forward a pilot program for BikeBunkers in Limerick.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.6 – Public Realm 5.6.1 – Public Toilets Public toilets were a small portion of what people wanted to see in the city centre, losing out to bigger ticket items like policing. However, there is a distinct lack of public toilets in the city centre, which can make it a more unattractive place to visit. The availability of public toilets would add significant value when large events are taking place in the city centre. Of course, it has to be acknowledged that there is a likelihood that public toilets could attract antisocial behaviour; however, this should not be a reason to halt implementation, but designers should be mindful of the potential issues.

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LCCC

Bring forward a pilot program for BikeBunkers in Limerick.

5.5.6 – Cargo Bikes There is scope for the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment to engage with Chambers Ireland and local chambers, as well as other interested stakeholders, to develop a series of pilot programmes across the country to roll out cargo and e-bikes for deliveries within city centres and other urban areas.

Cargo bikes are bicycles that have been specifically designed to carry cargo, be it heavy or light, big or small.

Recent design and battery innovations have made newer models much more efficient and accessible, as well as the ability to carry increased loads with lighter bikes managing loads up to 80 kg while heavier bikes can move up to 350 kg.

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Dept.

Communication, Climate Action & Environment / LCCC / Stakeholders

Develop a pilot programme for a cargo bike and e-bike usage for city-centre deliveries.

There are a number of ways public toilets could be implemented in the city. There could be standalone toilets such as the Portland Loo, or it could be utilising existing space in vacant buildings such as the old tourist offices at Arthurs Quay Park or the building on O’Connell Street.

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LCCC

Review current sites of public toilets and identify suitable locations for additional facilities to support increased footfall / improved hygiene in key areas.

5.6.2 –The Milk Market The Milk Market is one of the primary attractions of Limerick City Centre. It is a significant footfall driver attracting people into the city centre to shop for groceries and experience the leisure element the market has to offer. Not only that, but it is a unique public realm asset that draws people from across the Mid-West and, indeed, Ireland. However, there is significant scope to improve the market and surrounding area with further investment.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Measures should be introduced at the Carr Street and Ellen Street Junction, Cornmarket Row and Mungret Street and Robert Street and Upper Denmark Street to create a safer environment for pedestrians during market opening times within the immediate trading areas and for other concerts and events while retaining good access to get to and from the market. Furthermore, it would prohibit vehicles from driving and parking in the casual trading area during market operating hours. Currently, the Milk Market is one of the largest venues for concerts and other events in the city centre.

However, if the Milk Market was fully covered, it would have the capacity to host conferences and indoor events, adding to the regional venue offering. This is a prime example of a municipal asset that could be better served, and in turn, serve the city better, with improved links via improved public realm in the form of pedestrian or pedestrian-friendly infrastructure connecting the Milk Market via Robert St onto Cruises Street with the Main Thoroughfare of O’Connell Street. An example of this can be seen in the Spitalfields market in London, along with other examples on the European continent.

Support should be given to Limerick Market Trustees to secure funding for the redevelopment of the Milk Market. This redevelopment should include important facilities such as kitchens to allow food to be prepared on-site by traders for conferences and events. Work on the Milk Market should be expedited in order to support the city centre’s residential and hospitality offerings. Lastly, the Local Authority should examine the feasibility of leasing the Potato Market from the Market Trustees to bring forward an alternative use, other than a car park, at the Potato Market site that could further add value to the city centre.

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Limerick Milk Market / Agencies of the state

Support should be given to Limerick Market Trustee to advance redevelopment plans and add to regional capacity to host conferences and events.

5.6.3 – World Class Waterfront There is significant potential for the World Class Waterfront led by Limerick City and County Council.

Preparation of a Framework plan for the Arthur’s Quay Park area is due to be completed in Q4 2023.

In 2021, Limerick City and County Council received €73.4 million of URDF funding for “The development of a world-class waterfront linking the Opera site and the proposed new UL Campus across the river to the Cleeves riverside campus and towards the docklands incorporating major improvements at Arthur’s Quay, riverside flood defences, high-quality public realm, a pedestrian bridge from the city to Cleeves and signature buildings. There are three strands to the project.” However, to date, progress has been slow, and the focus is largely on the Arthurs Quay Park area. We would encourage the Local Authority to broaden plans for the entire waterfront to include the Docklands, which could examine expanding businesses further onto the river with public realm improvements to create a pedestrian and retail / hospitality corridor.

Furthermore, Limerick Chamber believes that there is significant scope to expand Arthur’s Quay Park to incorporate more green space and bio-diversity. This is one of the primary asks of survey respondents and would allow for a large city centre riverside park. With expanding the park outside its existing footprint comes the opportunity for residential development along the periphery, with apartments facing the newly expanded park. An important aspect of the below is that it keeps access for key delivery vehicles to get to stores while expanding the park and bio-diversity.

However, we do understand that the city can often act as an artery for those in Corbally to travel through when going to work or school. While there are other alternatives, there needs to be a long-term alternative brought forward for those people. Ultimately, the city centre needs to be prioritised as a final destination for people rather than a corridor to travel through.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

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LCCC

LCCC

Review the scope of the geographical area covered in the existing ‘world-class waterfronts’ works programme to be expanded to the docklands.

Expand the existing footprint of Arthurs Quay Park to increase green spaces and bio-diversity in the city centre.

5.6.4 – Public Spaces The bottom of Thomas Street is a good example of how to reinvigorate public space with benches and seating arrangements; we would encourage the local authority to expand this across the entire city centre and commend their work thus far.

Another element that has worked well for attracting people to the city centre is shop front coverings that protect people from the elements. Again, these pergolas worked well on Thomas Street and other areas and have provided the city centre with a new vibe and dynamic that was needed in the wake of COVID-19. We would urge the local authority to continue expanding these where possible, but be mindful not to be too obstructive to pedestrian spaces and walkways.

There is also the potential to bring in more community ownership in the city centre. For example, there has

been a site vacant on Thomas Street for some time that could be used in the interim for another use. We urge the local authority to work with business operators in local areas where these sites exist to find a temporary use for them that adds rather than detracts from the street scape. Not only will this attract more people, but it will also ensure that there is a standard on streets, i.e. business operators that look after their premises and streets should not be let down by vacant sites and buildings that are not maintained or used in the interim.

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LCCC

Bring forward a ‘Meanwhile’ use strategy for vacant / derelict sites in Limerick city centre.

5.6.5 – Biodiversity & City Greening Limerick needs a greater emphasis on improving greening through parks and planting trees. This is evident from the huge support in our survey for a greater focus on this area, with 76% of respondents outlining that the city centre needed more biodiversity, greening and trees.

The National Biodiversity Action Plan outlines that all biocultural value of green and blue urban environments in all local authority areas is to be enhanced by the end of 2027. The action plan outlines that Local Authorities will work to identify and respond to opportunities for enhancing the biocultural value of green and blue urban environments (GBUE) through appropriate design strategies. While Limerick City has no specific urban biodiversity and greening plan, Dublin City Council launched theirs in 2021, which will run to 2025 and could be used as a starting point for Limerick.

There have been some success stories in Britain whereby town centres have increased greening efforts and reportedly saw an increase in footfall. For example, the development of Sheffield Peace Gardens reportedly increased shopping visits by 35% and

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

increased spending by £4.2 million. At the same time, an investment in Stoke-on-Trent to make the area more pedestrian-friendly resulted in 30% more footfall. As part of the survey undertaken for this report, we found that 76% of respondents outlined that the city centre needed more trees, greenspace and biodiversity, as seen in Figure 4.7.5 Greenery and Biodiversity.

As part of the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy, the Commission called on European towns and cities of at least 20,000 inhabitants to “develop ambitious Urban Greening Plans” including “measures to create biodiverse and accessible urban forests, parks and gardens; urban farms; green roofs and walls; treelined streets; urban meadows; and urban hedges”. As part of this, the Commission has released a draft Urban Greening Plan and Toolkit.

Limerick Chamber would like to see the development of an Urban Greening Plan for Limerick City Centre in the medium-term. However, in the interim, there should be advancement in increasing biodiversity through trees and green areas in the city centre led by the Local Authority. Ideally, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, could create the Urban Bio-diversity Fund, which would allow Local Authorities and Stakeholder groups to submit an application for funding to increase biodiversity and greening across Ireland’s five cities.

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Dept.

Housing, Local Government and Heritage

LCCC / Stakeholders

Develop ‘Urban Biodiversity Fund’ for Local Authorities and stakeholder groups to access funding to increase biodiversity and greening across Ireland’s five cities.

Develop an ‘Urban Greening Plan’ for Limerick.

5.6.6 – Laneways Project During a City Exchange week in 2019, the +CityxChange team, alongside members of the public, gathered to share their ideas and plans for the laneways of Limerick.

In 2020, laneway projects were selected, and surveys, workshops and public consultation were undertaken.

A second round of public consultation was undertaken in March 2021. The project was part of the Living Georgian City Initiative. The purpose of the project was to rejuvenate and reimagine Limerick City Centre Laneways. However, since then, progress has slowed.

We encourage Limerick City and County Council to advance this project in order to take advantage of Limerick’s historic laneways and turn them into usable and interesting spaces.

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LCCC

Review work done to date on the laneways project and bring forward any revisions necessary in light of the evolving policy context.

5.7 – Culture, Entertainment & Attractions 5.7.1 –Urban Gaeltacht As outlined in our census results section, Limerick City Centre has an extremely low population of Irish speakers. However, this does offer Limerick a chance to become Ireland’s first urban Gaeltacht, or at least put Limerick on the road to becoming one. A Gaeltacht is an area where the Irish language is the predominant standard language or language of the home. Successive Governments have done a poor job of encouraging an increase in Irish language speakers or capability. Not only is boosting Irish speakers incredibly important from a cultural and heritage perspective, but it also offers value for tourists coming to visit Ireland.

1) Embed Irish in everyday life: shop fronts, street signs, road signs, etc. While this is already there in some instances, Irish could be the predominant language on these signs. This should be rolled into the commercial signage scheme mentioned previously.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

2) It is clear the current education system is not teaching Irish efficiently, meaning many teens who leave school cannot speak Irish. There needs to be a large drive from the Department of Education to change this. Combined with this, there should be freely available classes for people to learn Irish that they can incorporate into everyday life.

9) Limerick should look to the Belfast Gaeltacht Quarter for inspiration and learning, where annual events such as Féile an Phobail, Féile na Carraige, Belfast TradFest, Sean-Nós na Fearsaide, Féile na gCloigíní Gorma, Liú Lúnasa and Scoil Samhraidh Mhic Reachtain are hosted. As well as the promotion of every day use of Irish.

3) Limerick has a large contingent of non-Irish citizens.

However, they are not encouraged to learn Irish.

Programmes should be set up to encourage new residents to learn Irish. Israel uses the Ulpan framework, which is a framework for learning the Hebrew language for immigrants. It is jointly run by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry for Integration. Uplan operates throughout Israel yearround with classes based on the number of new immigrants. Wales have used an adapted version of this plan to revive the Welsh language.

There is huge potential to make this a cross-border initiative with Limerick being twinned with Belfast and learning from delegates from Belfast on how they introduced the programme and their learnings from it.

Due to it being a cross-border initiative, there is likely funding available from central Government.

4) There should be a financial incentive for childcare and education institutions to teach on a predominantly Irish basis, from childcare right up to university and apprenticeships. This could come in the form of a grant from central government.

5) Essential services, when at a critical mass stage, should also receive greater funding to provide their services in Irish.

6) Bus Announcements, timetables and bus stops should use Irish as well as English.

7) City Centre events should be run throughout the year, culminating in an annual weekly festival. The event should be predominantly in Irish and focus on culture.

8) As part of this, an Irish Heritage and Folk museum should be brought forward in the city centre. This is the norm in other countries, with a focus on indigenous people throughout the ages. Currently, it is not a museum sector well represented in Ireland and could be added value for Limerick.

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Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop a framework for ‘urban Gaeltacht’ classification and measures to support increased adoption and use of Irish and embed Irish into everyday life.

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LCCC

Investigate the possibility of developing relationship / twinning with Belfast to identify areas of mutual interest where cooperation can be of support to each other.

5.7.2 –Marketing for the City While it is important to make changes to how the city works to increase the number of people living in the city centre and the number of businesses operating in the city centre, so too is how we market the city centre. There is significant scope to increase the reach and marketing potential of the city centre. However, this requires greater levels of central funding for the marketing department in Limerick City and County Council, be it through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts,

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Gaeltacht Sport and Media or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or Failte Ireland. The 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare will offer the city a chance to promote itself on the world stage. With this regard, we encourage the Government, along with Failte Ireland, to provide a road map of marketing up to 2027, along with multi-annual funding to promote the city in the run-up.

There has been positive work to date undertaken by local hospitality sector stakeholders, supported by Failte Ireland. This was particularly evident during the pandemic to collaborate to improve visitor offering for Limerick and increase Limerick’s share of the domestic market. It is also important to note the important role that Failte Ireland has played in the development of the ‘Gateway City’ brand, the only of its kind in the country, which piggybacks on the success of the Wild Atlantic Way route and is how Limerick is marketed to an international audience.

There is scope for Limerick to expand promotional activities targeting arriving passengers in Shannon Airport, encouraging visit / overnight stay in Limerick city. This could be a two-pronged approach. Firstly, the local authority should partner with airlines to directly market to passengers on inbound flights. Promotional campaigns can be focused on locally produced goods as they provide added value to shoppers to buy something they can’t buy anywhere else.

Secondly, there is the potential for Limerick City and County Council to partner with the Shannon Airport Group to increase advertising capabilities at the arrivals gate at the airport should be explored. This has already been carried out successfully at Dublin Airport.

Shannon, being one of the prime destinations for inbound tourists from North America, offers Limerick significant potential to attract visitors to the city.

However, it is possible that a tourist could land, collect their bag and drive to Dublin without ever thinking to visit the city centre.

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Relevant agencies of the state

Increased promotion of Limerick as a ‘Gateway City to wild Atlantic way’ targeting high-value international visitors.

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Relevant agencies of the state

Opportunities to develop marketing infrastructure at Shannon Airport should be identified and considered.

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Relevant agencies of the state

Recommendations on Tourism sector opportunities identified in the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce report should be implemented.

5.7.3 – Street Art In recent years, a vibrant street art scene has emerged in Limerick, and work to nurture, facilitate and fund these pieces by Limerick City and County Council should be commended. The development of a guided ‘Limerick Street art trail’ by LCCC brings these works by international and local artists together, creating a visitor attraction and increasing accessibility for residents and visitors alike. We would encourage an expansion of this programme, pairing artists and businesses, as well as other building owners, where they can bring an idea forward together and apply for funding to carry out the street art. This would be of particular value to Limerick’s laneways. However, it should not solely be focused on buildings. We should also expand the programme to electricity boxes, bins, etc., in an effort to create another layer of vibrancy and promote the arts in Limerick.

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LCCC / Agencies of the state / Stakeholders

A funding programme should be developed to facilitate joint applications by building owners and artists for proposed artworks, which can respond to set themes or be site-specific.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.7.4 – Entertainment Amenities Replace highlighted text with ‘Private sector businesses are an important stakeholder in the provision of entertainment amenities for Limerick city. While delivery of specific projects/exhibitions/shows is often supported through agencies of the state / LCCC, for the most part, capital investment decisions and associated financial risks are weighed up and taken privately based on commercial viability and expected return on investment. A key finding from our survey was a desire to have more entertainment amenities in Limerick city centre. There was also a strong interest from respondents in having a greater availability of nonalcoholic related activities in the city centre. Forward planning for Limerick city centre should incorporate measures to direct/promote the establishment of key amenities sought by identified demographics in order to make the city centre more attractive for those demographics. For example, Limerick has a relatively low population of under 18s. If we want to encourage more families to live in and visit the city centre, then we need more entertainment amenities such as cinemas, bowling alleys etc.

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Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / LCCC

Provisions should be made to allow Local Authorities to direct/ attract the establishment of identified amenities that are deemed pertinent to the revitalization of city centres and support the strategic objective of promoting increased citycentre living.

5.7.5 –King John’s Castle It is a positive step that Limerick City and County Council have taken ownership of King John’s Castle.

In recent years, the area surrounding the castle has become vibrant and often a centre for cultural and

entertainment activities, oftentimes driven by local businesses. In conjunction with events taking place in the castle, it has made the area more attractive. There is potential to develop the castle further to boost visitor numbers, and we recommend that stakeholders be consulted in advance of further development to ensure an optimal outcome for all is achieved.

5.8 – Retail 5.8.1 – High End & Diversified Retail While variety was cited by survey respondents as a reason for visiting the city centre, there was also a cohort who outlined there was not enough variety in the city centre in conjunction with the perceived lack of high-end retail. This is a “chicken or egg” scenario.

Do we need high-end retail to bring more people into the city centre? Or do we need more people to bring high-end retailers into the city centre? It is likely the latter; if high-end retailers see a demand for a high number footfall, then they will likely set up, providing they have adequate space. However, it is important to note that Limerick City Centre Stakeholders must focus on what is in our control, and that is many of the items recommended in the report. If we improve the city centre, get greater footfall, make it nicer and have more people living here, then high-end and diversified retail will come. Limerick Chamber is liaising with highend and diversified retailers about what we can do to improve and make the city a more attractive place for them to locate, and this will continue to be a focus of our work into 2024.

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LCCC

Efforts should focus on implementing short-term measures to improve the city centre visitor experience in tandem with accelerated pursuit of the medium / longer-term objective of increasing mixed tenure residential occupancy in Limerick city centre as the most sustainable way to support existing retail in Limerick and to attract new retail activities of all types.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.8.2 – Cruises Street Encouraged by the success of Dublin’s Grafton Street pedestrianisation in the 1980s, Limerick City Corporation welcomed proposals for the creation of a pedestrianised shopping district in the heart of Limerick city, seeing it as further enhancing the city’s reputation as being the premier retail destination in the Mid-West.

Supported by the governments ‘Urban Renewal’ and Section 23 tax relief schemes of the day, Cruises Street was opened in 1992 and enjoyed some commercial success for the most part of the following decade.

In recent times, changes in shopper habits (online shopping), demand for larger units by big brand retailers, migration of jobs, residents, and some retailers to the suburbs (the doughnut effect) have all contributed to the decline in footfall and retail occupancy of the street.

Cruises Street, despite its current decline, has significant potential. However, there needs to be drastic action quickly, or problems will become more embedded and harder to tackle. Combined with the potential interventions mentioned previously regarding commercial signage, façade and store front upgrades and commercial rate changing, there will be further intervention required. There is scope to bring new hospitality-focused businesses onto the street to support a more vibrant atmosphere. By utilising shop awnings or even covering the entire street it will ensure that people can dine or socialise outside without the worry of the weather. Cruises Street shares a similar structure with Kildare Village, and there are learnings to be made from how Kildare has created a business and shopper-focused destination and how we might be able to replicate this in Limerick. We recommend that the Local Authority establish a task force of existing businesses on the street and other stakeholders with the view to creating a plan for the street which might be used for a funding application through mechanisms like the URDF or other comparable funding streams.

However, it is crucial that this task force has some sort of budget for creating a plan and renewed strategy for the street. This should help to engage planners, architects and others to create a realistic vision for the street.

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LCCC / Cruises Street stakeholders

A task force with budgetary support is to be established to develop plans for the revitalisation of Cruises Street.

5.8.3 – Online Support There is no doubting the impact that online shopping has had on in-person retail. Some businesses have expanded their offering to include online options.

However, there needs to be more support in this area.

In Limerick Chamber’s pre-budget submission 2024, we advocated for expanding the online trading voucher to support organisations that want to expand their online presence but not necessarily trade online, i.e., organisations that want to create a website to show current stock options and perhaps utilise a click and click system. The Local Enterprise Offices would be best placed to administer such a grant, which should be supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

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DETE / LEO

Expansion of online trading vouchers to support upgrades of online presence for retailers

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

5.8.4 – Shopping Centres Vs City Centres In our survey, we inquired about the preference for the Crescent Shopping Centre over the city centre. While the city centre can enhance its retail offerings and highend options, it lacks parking, and free parking is unlikely due to national policy. People often shop near home or work, emphasising the importance of more residential areas in the city centre. There are other aspects to improve, such as protection from the elements and cleanliness. Still, a city centre can't be compared to a shopping centre not only due to its outdoor nature but as they are fundamentally different experiential offerings. People choose the city centre for its ambience and environment, so we should focus on improving these aspects. The city centre offers a different, experiential experience that can attract longer visits and increased spending. Supporting local businesses is another critical motivator for city centre visits, as reported by survey respondents. Limerick City Centre should capitalise on its strengths, emphasising social and experiential elements for both day and night. This involves leveraging the city's historic charm and providing public spaces for businesses. Instead of competing with shopping centres, the city centre should focus on its unique strengths.

City centre visits are social and experiential. Leveraging Limerick's history and heritage, along with providing more public space and pedestrian areas, can enhance the city centre’s ambience and appeal. This approach benefits retailers, businesses, and street performers, creating a unique customer experience, much like the successful Reimagining Cork City project.

R62

Stakeholders

Focus on what people like about the city centre currently and how we might expand and nurture this to offer a unique value proposition while collaborating with shopping centres.

R63

LEO / LCCC

A one-stop shop / portal should be established to sign-post businesses / entrepreneurs to information on existing supports for retail occupancy of city centre space, including any provisions introduced for ‘meanwhile’ use of space, and to promote Limerick city centre as a more attractive location for retail and hospitality investors.

There is scope for collaboration between the city centre and shopping centres. Oftentimes, people from outside Limerick will come to visit one or the other, but through collaborative working, there is the potential where both can benefit from the economic spillovers that the others offer.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

6.0 Author’s Concluding Remarks This report represents the most detailed and comprehensive data study undertaken in recent years for Limerick City Centre.

It provides a number of key recommendations that are not only underpinned by official data sources but also by almost 500 city centre stakeholders who responded to the survey. It covers a broad range of themes but isn’t all-encompassing; like any city, Limerick is constantly evolving and will need regular updates to seize opportunities and deal with any challenges. We have listened to our membership and their concerns with the city and brought forward practical and tangible recommendations that will work to improve the city centre if implemented correctly. The report identifies that it isn’t solely the responsibility of Limerick City and County Council to look after and improve the city centre, but it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to become involved in the process of the evolving city to ensure an efficient and optimal outcome for all. Like all things in life, there is a large element of personal responsibility to get Limerick “to work,” from looking after buildings to picking up litter and everything in between. While Limerick Chamber has made many recommendations in this report, we are also proactively looking to become involved in solutions and implementation and with that, this report is the first step.

The perceived division between the city centre and out-of-town shopping centres is also not helpful, and we know from our survey that people shop and visit close to where they live, where it is convenient.

We need to realise that in order to grow as a city, a county and a region, we need a diverse offering.

We need to realise that some have forgotten what makes the city centre great in the first place: the people, the business and the vibe and in recent times we may have forgotten to nurture and take care of these items, but we now need a renewed focus. While there are many items that can negatively impact a city centre, the one item that has the largest impact is the failure to change with the times. It is unlikely that any city centre will ever survive being resistant to change, but the ones that do thrive are the ones that learn how they can be part of the change. However, change requires strong and collaborative leaders.

What is important to note is that the status quo will not “save” the city from the decline that some stakeholders perceive. In fact, there is no single mechanism that will “save” the city. However, what we do need is incremental change that, over time, will add up to the city becoming a more attractive place to be for residents and businesses alike.

By leaning into what makes the city great and unique and expanding on this offering, the city centre will continue to evolve in a direction that is more appropriate for 21st-century living and a thriving place to do business.

Seán Golden Chief Economist & Director of Policy

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

7.0 Summary of Recommendations

Responsibility

Recommendation Detail

R28

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / CSO

Clearly define the area that is ‘City centre.’

R2

City stakeholders

Collaborate to carry out city centre-focused surveys.

R3

LCCC

Collate and publish footfall counter data (Underway).

R4

LCCC

Measure car, bike and pedestrian use within the city centre (Underway).

R5

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / CSO

Commence key data collection for regional cities identified in Project Ireland 2040, including data on earnings.

R6

LCCC

LEF should be mandated / resourced to carry out key research projects.

R7

LCCC

Conduct an assessment of office / commercial space demand.

R8

LCCC / LDA / ESRI / CSO

There needs to be a greater understanding of actual demand. All demand assessments to date exclude pent-up demand, which massively understates actual demand. Furthermore, we need to understand what people want and need from homes in the city centre.

R9

Dept. Justice / IPS / An Garda Siochana

Resource Mulgrave Street Court House security requirements differently to return Gardai to Limerick division for assignment to other duties.

R10

Dept. Justice / An Garda Siochana

Take population growth and demographics into consideration when deciding on the allocation of Garda resources.

R11

Limerick Chamber / relevant stakeholders

Develop a campaign to remind and encourage member businesses to log all instances of crime and to explain why it matters.

R12

Dept. Justice / Dept. Children / An Garda Siochana / Relevant agencies

In consultation with local stakeholders & relevant agencies, develop all agency approach for enhanced support for vulnerable individuals.

R13

Estate Agents / LCCC

Collaborate with stakeholders to establish a ‘fast track’ system for declaring a property ‘vacant’, and develop a portal / database listing of said qualifying properties for prospective buyers / investors in a renovation project.

R14

Dept. Finance

A review of LCI to address impediments to access / drawdown as outlined.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Responsibility

68

Recommendation Detail

R15

Dept. Finance

Extend LCI to be available to all homes pre-1945 to include more properties in the city centre.

R16

LCCC / Stakeholders

Introduce a ‘Painting Grant Scheme’ similar to that in place with Cork City Council.

R17

LCCC / Stakeholders

Introduce a project to remove / hide / tidy external wires on heritage buildings and catenary wires crossing core streets.

R18

LCCC

Introduce commercial building signage regulations to ensure uniformity of style/quality of city centre signage.

R19

LCCC / Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Introduce ‘Signage improvement grant’ for existing businesses to replace external signage, similar to scheme introduced by Cork City Council.

R20

LCCC / Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Introduce ‘Shop Front Improvement Scheme’ for existing businesses in city centre, similar to that introduced by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

R21

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop policy to support delivery of larger homes in city centres to facilitate a greater tenure mix and increased occupancy.

R22

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Introduce targets for affordable housing (worker housing) in city centres via a repair and leasing scheme or a buy and renew scheme.

R23

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop ‘carrot & stick’ policies to support occupancy and productive use of vacant commercial properties in city centres.

R24

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop a policy for ‘meanwhile’ use of vacant commercial properties in city centres.

R25

LCCC

Review current guidelines regarding commercial rate write-offs for vacant properties in the city centre. Adopt a carrot/stick approach to support occupancy.

R26

City centre building owners

Offer flexible leases and rates inclusive of business essentials (bins, broadband, electricity) to support greater occupancy of vacant commercial spaces in the city centre.

R27

LCCC / City centre building owners

Develop guidelines for the presentation of vacant commercial premises so as to minimise the impact of vacancy on other businesses.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Responsibility

Recommendation Detail

R28

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / LCCC Executive and LCCC Metro Councilors

City centre-specific tenure mix policy should be introduced with higher Affordable Housing and private ownership targets in order to address the current imbalance in city centre tenure.

R29

Agencies of the State

Expedite the provision of cost-rental / affordable purchase homes in the city centre to support the sustainability of existing businesses..

R30

LCCC

Introduce a policy to ensure all city centre developments have a component of private or affordable purchase to increase the overall rate of home ownership in Limerick city centre.

R31

LCCC / Agencies of the State

Location of social services in the city centre should not be overly concentrated in one area and should be spread around to dilute any negative impacts on the working / living / investment environment.

R32

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Review barriers to occupancy over the shop.

Develop a national strategy and introduce planning and building control exemptions for city centres to support over-the-shop living while ensuring tenant safety.

R33

LCCC / Stakeholders

Develop a pilot ‘Strategic Business Area’ at an appropriate city centre location to trial measures to enhance footfall.

R34

LCCC

Increase frequency of cleaning of key streets in the city centre.

R35

LCCC / Stakeholders

Consider the introduction of a ban on the sale of chewing gum in city centre outlets.

R36

LCCC / Stakeholders

Introduce bin storage units for commercial and residential buildings on key streets and laneways in the city centre.

R37

LCCC

Continue work underway on decluttering of signage in the city centre and expand to include electricity and other catenary wires.

R38

NTA / LCCC

Bring forward the planned mobility study for Limerick city ahead of the finalisation of the Limerick BusConnects strategy so as to better inform key decisions being taken on changes to street / bridge usage.

R39

LCCC / Stakeholders

Develop ‘carrot and stick’ measures to support a reduction in illegal parking. As well as continually perform information campaigns (Underway).

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Responsibility

70

Recommendation Detail

R40

LCCC

As part of the ‘Delivery strategy’ under the Transport and Mobility Plan, review the appropriateness of existing on-street parking designations at key locations, taking into consideration national policies in support of increased public and active transport usage. As well as assess the efficacy of the size of bus stops and delivery bays with a view to expansion.

R41

LCCC / NTA

An audit should be carried out of safe crossing points in the city centre to identify gaps where crossing points should be introduced.

R42

LCCC

Bring forward a pilot program for BikeBunkers in Limerick.

R43

Dept. Communication, Develop a pilot programme for cargo bike and e-bike usage for cityClimate Action & Environment centre deliveries. / LCCC / Stakeholders

R44

LCCC

Review current sites of public toilets and identify suitable locations for additional facilities to support increased footfall / improved hygiene in key areas.

R45

Limerick Milk Market / Agencies of the state

Support should be given to Limerick Market Trustee to advance redevelopment plans and add to regional capacity to host conferences and events.

R46

LCCC

Review the scope of the geographical area covered in the existing ‘world-class waterfronts’ works programme to be expanded to the docklands.

R47

LCCC

Expand the existing footprint of Arthurs Quay Park to increase green spaces and bio-diversity in the city centre.

R48

LCCC

Bring forward a ‘Meanwhile’ use strategy for vacant / derelict sites in Limerick city centre.

R49

Dept. Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop an ‘Urban Bio-diversity Fund’ for Local Authorities and stakeholder groups to access funding to increase biodiversity and greening across Ireland’s five cities.

R50

LCCC / Stakeholders

Develop an ‘Urban Greening Plan’ for Limerick.

R51

LCCC

Review work done to date on the laneways project and bring forward any revisions necessary in light of the evolving policy context.

R52

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Develop a framework for ‘urban Gaeltacht’ classification and measures to support increased adoption and use of Irish and embed Irish into everyday life.

Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

Responsibility

Recommendation Detail

R53

LCCC

R54

Relevant agencies of the state Increased promotion of Limerick as ‘Gateway city to wild Atlantic way’ targeting high-value international visitors.

R55

Relevant agencies of the state Opportunities to develop marketing infrastructure at Shannon Airport should be identified and considered.

R56

Relevant agencies of the state Recommendations on Tourism sector opportunities identified in the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce report should be implemented.

R57

LCCC /Agencies of the state / Stakeholders

A funding programme should be developed to facilitate joint applications by building owners and artists for proposed artworks, which can respond to set themes or be site-specific.

R58

Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage / LCCC

Provisions should be made to allow Local Authorities to direct/attract the establishment of identified amenities that are deemed pertinent to the revitalization of city centres and support the strategic objective of promoting increased city-centre living.

R59

LCCC

Efforts should focus on implementing short-term measures to improve the city centre visitor experience in tandem with accelerated pursuit of the medium / longer-term objective of increasing mixed tenure residential occupancy in Limerick city centre as the most sustainable way to support existing retail in Limerick and to attract new retail activities of all types.

R60

LCCC / Cruises Street stakeholders

A task force with budgetary support to be established to develop plans for the revitalisation of Cruises Street.

R61

DETE / LEO

Expansion of online trading voucher to support up-grades of online presence for retailers.

R62

Stakeholders

Focus on what people like about the city centre currently and how we might expand and nurture this to offer a unique value proposition, while collaborating with shopping centres

R63

LEO / LCCC

A one-stop shop / portal should be established to sign-post businesses / entrepreneurs to information on existing supports for retail occupancy of city centre space, including any provisions introduced for ‘meanwhile’ use of space, and to promote Limerick city centre as a more attractive location for retail and hospitality investors.

Investigate the possibility of developing relationship / twinning with Belfast to identify areas of mutual interest where cooperation can be of support to each other.

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Limerick Chamber Limerick City Centre Report

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