Limerick councillors have voted unanimously against plans to build modular homes in a city park.
The councillors invoked emergency legislation to prevent Mayor John Moran's proposals to develop up to 500 modular units at the Boro Park in Janesboro.
Ahead of the vote at a special meeting of the council last night, Mayor Moran published a blog on his website in which he said Limerick must significantly ramp up housing delivery in the years ahead to keep pace with a growing population.
He said the lands in Janesboro were zoned for high-density housing by councillors under the current Development Plan, and form part of the wider Colbert Quarter masterplan.
"This is not a new or sudden proposal. It is part of a long-standing plan, shaped by experts, consultation and decisions taken by councillors themselves.
"Residents deserve to see the full picture - what is proposed, what is not, and what the benefits could be for their community," the mayor said.
The plans had proven controversial, with many local residents opposed to the project on the only green space in Janesboro.
Councillors were unified in their opposition and following a presentation of the proposals by the mayor at the meeting, they voted to invoke a Section 139 of the Local Government Act to block the SMART housing plans.
It is a rarely used mechanism which allows councillors to formally instruct the council executive to stop a specific project.
The resolution put together by councillors Sarah Kiely and príomh chomhairleoir Catherine Slattery was passed by 39 votes to zero.
The move to vote against the plans for the modular homes in Limerick came on the same day that a proposal was brought to Cabinet to grant planning exemptions for modular homes of up to 45sq/m in back gardens.
