There has been strong local objection to plans to knock several buildings in the city’s westend and replace them with student accommodation.
Stagrock Limited has applied for planning permission to demolish no. 31 – 35 Munster Avenue and build a four storey student accommodation building with 73 single room apartments in their place.
The development would also include a caretaker apartment, common rooms, laundry, storage rooms, reception, and other necessary services.
According to the developer there is a shortage of “good quality student accommodation within the city, within easy reach of the existing third level education facilities”.
This development has been designed with clusters of three to eight student bedrooms arranged around a common room.
“Three courtyard campus areas have been provided to ensure ample provision for external meeting and relaxation, each provided with covered cycle shelters”.
No car parking has been included in the design, something Stagrock said the city council said is allowed “as a consequence of the nature of the proposal and the location within the city boundary”.
The height of the complex will range from two and a half to four storeys along Munster Avenue.
Outside of academic term times it is intended that the complex would be used as a hostel/tourist accommodation.
There has been heavy local opposition to these plans, with a total of 20 objections made to the city council.
Locals said that a development of this scale and nature is unsuited to a quiet residential neighbourhood.
Serious concerns were also expressed about the total lack of car parking in the design.
It was pointed out that many students now own cars, and tourists often bring cars as well.
The lack of any provision of parking will lead to a lot of on street parking in Munster Avenue locals said.
People also said that with approval recently given for a 674 bed space student accommodation at NUIG, and hundreds more coming at the site of the Westwood hotel, there is no need for more student accommodation here.
Galway city council is due to make a decision on this planning application by July 29.
