Compact Growth and Revitalisation "opportunity sites" to include Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) Building.

Údar: 
Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP)

Volume 4 - Environmental Reports

Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) strongly supports the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 and, in common with many other stakeholder groups, welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the consultation process. LEDP, as a key actor in Limerick City, is particularly encouraged by the by the rhetoric surrounding the LDP consultation process, which is underpinned by a strategic vision intended to guide the sustainable future growth of Limerick.

Limerick is a tale of two cities. A lot has improved since the foundation of Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) in 1999, yet much remains the same, especially the prevalence of social issues in disadvantaged areas. LEDP was established as a not-for-profit, independently funded charity in response to the closure of the Moulinex-Krups factory, particularly affecting communities on the southside of Limerick City. Its purpose was set to supports social and economic inclusion in disadvantaged communities. Seven local entities from various sectors of Limerick society partnered together to purchase the factory (169,000 sq. ft) and wider site (16 acres). Despite an uphill battle to secure funds, the partners persevered, and the purchase and refurbishment costs were met by a combination of bank borrowings, government grant aid and philanthropic funding. The new partnership was, and still is, a global best in class example of a community-led development and is unique in an Irish context. 

The LEDP Campus now boasts a 143-room hotel, retail outlets, vital community services, and a multinational retailer as well as the multiple activities carried out on a daily basis within the LEDP building. There are now over 1,000 direct jobs supported on the original site, a doubling of the original goal of replacing all of the 500 lost jobs with the devastating closure of the Moulinex-Krups factory. In addition, there are over 150 training and upskilling places filled annually at LEDP by various partners.

The LEDP building has multiple tenants in sectors commercial, charity, training and upskilling, and education. All revenue is put back into the community in various initiatives. There is a vacant unit (Innovation Hub) totalling 33,000 sq. ft. which is the largest single floorplate outside of Dublin in the country. By continuing to work in cohesion and partnership, the objectives set out in our new bold Strategy can be realised, and thus ensure the Mid-West Region is a place where everyone can benefit from. https://www.ledp.ie/our-strategy/

The LEDP Building has already transformed and regenerated a key area of Limerick City South with all its activities since 1999. As part of LEDP’s recently launched Strategic Plan 2021-2026 a new multi-functional Creative & Innovative Industries Centre at the Innovation Hub is planned. This facility will compromise Ireland’s first virtual production studio and appropriate space to facilitate and encourage indigenous SME sub suppliers to the Film Industry to grow (prop making, lighting, set construction etc), in a regeneration area. To faciliate this initative, the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 should identify the LEDP Building as an "opportunity site" in its Compact Growth and Revitalisation Policies and Objectives. Its exclusion thus far is an oversight which does not acknowledge the contribution of LEDP, the LEDP Building - both directly and indirectly - which has had an enormous positive impact on Limerick City South, both socially and economically, and will continue to do so into the future.

 

Main opinion: 

The exclusion thus far of the LEDP Building as an "opportunity site" is an oversight which does not acknowledge the contribution of LEDP, the LEDP Building - both directly and indirectly - which has had an enormous positive impact on Limerick City South, both socially and economically, and will continue to do so into the future.

Main requests: 

The Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 should identify the LEDP Building as an "opportunity site" in its Compact Growth and Revitalisation Policies and Objectives. 

Main reasons: 

LEDP has proven its importance to regeneration with the outputs of its success thus far; the LEDP Campus now boasts a 143-room hotel, retail outlets, vital community services, and a multinational retailer as well as the multiple activities carried out on a daily basis within the LEDP building. There are now over 1,000 direct jobs supported on the original site, a doubling of the original goal of replacing all of the 500 lost jobs with the devastating closure of the Moulinex-Krups factory. In addition, there are over 150 training and upskilling places filled annually at LEDP by various partners.