The planned facility at Limerick IT, Coonagh. Image: LIT
Limerick Institute of Technology has received planning permission to construct a major new campus at Coonagh.
Eager to help build a ‘knowledge corridor’ for the county, Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) has received the green light to get cracking on a brand new campus.
Primarily focused on engineering, the €14m facility will be at Coonagh, in north Limerick city.
An Bord Pleanála, the Irish planning authority, gave the go-ahead for what LIT describes as an entirely new kind of state-of-the-art campus.
The development will lead to 134 construction jobs and 100 full-time jobs when fully completed, with students on campus in 2018, before complete allocation with staff by the following year.
Victory for all
Prof Vincent Cunnane, LIT president, said he was delighted with the news, which means a critical piece of infrastructure for the entire region.
“This decision is a win for everyone, and underlines our commitment to the coherent development of Limerick city and the region through our 2030 Campus Masterplan.
“In order to strengthen the economic growth that the region has experienced in recent times, it is essential to provide the research and educational infrastructure that such growth is predicated on.
“The LIT Coonagh campus does just this, and enables us to produce graduates with the very specific skills needed to sustain the region’s economic growth.”
Cunnane added that this facility will help create a “knowledge corridor” in Limerick, between the campus and the National Technology Park.
The planned facility at Limerick IT, Coonagh. Image: LIT
Lim’ it to win it
It’s all go in Limerick this summer.
Last month, Northern Trust revealed plans to bulk up its presence there, targeting a total staff count of 1,400 across its two sites.
With Limerick representing a fund administration centre of excellence for the company, Clive Bellows, country head of Northern Trust in Ireland, claimed that the news confirms a fresh commitment to the nation.
“We have seen growth in the scale and operation of our Irish business over the years, and the continued expansion of our office in Limerick reflect[s] this,” he said, acknowledging IDA’s assistance in the process.
University of Limerick and Limerick IT were also name-checked by Bellows, noting his company’s “strong relationships” with the educational institutions.
Elsewhere, DesignPro also revealed plans to up its staff count; Limerick’s Opera Site is being pitched as a vibrant hub for future digital and fintech businesses; while a new initiative that seeks to develop sports technology research and business growth in Ireland has been set up in the county, spearheaded by three local entrepreneurs.
