Although we have to wait and see the detail on the reformed 'Living Cities Initiative', here are the initial thoughts of the Limerick Chapter on the 2017 Budget announcement, as it relates to the Georgian architecture of Limerick City. 

First, the expansion of the scheme to include landlords will broaden the demographic to which the scheme can ultimately benefit. Secondly, the elimination of the maximum floor area restriction is very welcome, as many of the townhouses in Newtown Pery were excluded from the original scheme for this reason.

The removal of the requirement for properties to have a former residential use is especially welcome in Limerick where we have a wide variety of building types, including mills and warehouses, which could be converted into attractive living spaces. A working Living Cities Initiative, alongside significant improvements to Limerick's public realm, traffic and amenity spaces would go along way towards revitalising Newtown Pery.

Some of the comments of the Limerick Chapter were quoted in the Limerick Leader last Saturday, 15th October.