Clare County Council says thousands of jobs could be created here over the next decade in the county’s newest town.
It will be located on the Clare side of the UL campus, and is seen as a key attraction point for specialised industries.
Ireland’s first new town was Shannon, built in the 1960’s, and now the local authority is hoping to achieve another first.
The Council is seeking Government approval for a Strategic Development Zone on the Clare side of the UL campus, and will submit an application in the coming weeks.
Describing it as Ireland’s first 21st Century University town, they say it will provide for a full range of living, working and social spaces integrated with UL’s facilities.
They also say it will result in the creation of more than 3,500 jobs, with one senior official, Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally saying that number could grow even further.
The local authority has held preliminary discussions with a number of organisations including Shannon Group and Enterprise Ireland and hopes to work with it’s counterparts at Limerick City and County Council to bring the project to fruition.
Significant funding will be needed at local, national and European level though and it will be ten years before the town will begin to take shape.
The proposal, received unanimous backing from Councillors at the council’s monthly meeting, amongst them local representative Cathal Crowe.
Concern has been raised by some people living locally that the development will lead to further sprawl from Limerick city.
But Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley believes the pros of the project far outweigh the cons.
