Works have commenced on Phase I of the landmark €400 million-plus Cleeves Riverside Quarter regeneration, marking a major milestone in the transformation of the historic 10-acre project in the heart of Limerick.
Sisk has been appointed as contractor to deliver this phase, which will focus on the stabilisation, consolidation and repair of the protected 175-year-old Flaxmill building, one of Limerick’s most significant industrial heritage structures.
The works, which will run for 15 months, are being delivered on behalf of Limerick Twenty Thirty (LTT), developers of the wider project, with funding support from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), and represent the first critical step in the comprehensive redevelopment of the Cleeves Riverside Quarter.
Phase I involves heritage-led stabilisation and repair works to the Flaxmill’s upper storey and roof, safeguarding the long-term future of the iconic building while enabling its integration into the wider regeneration of the site.
The transformation of the historic Flaxmill later in the wider programme into a centre for academic, educational, and student facilities will set a new standard for regenerative conversions of old industrial buildings into inspired urban centrepieces.
The protected Flaxmill building is one of Limerick’s most significant industrial heritage structures, and its age and condition require a careful, conservation‑led approach to repair and stabilise the building. Built around 1853, the Flaxmill is a rare surviving example of nineteenth‑century industrial architecture and forms a central element of Cleeves Riverside Quarter.
LTT appointed a specialist conservation team led by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB Studios), an internationally recognised UK‑based practice renowned for its work on historic and protected structures. Working alongside Limerick‑based Architectural Conservation Professionals, the team has undertaken detailed surveys, investigations and design development over several years.
FCB Studios assigned architects accredited in building conservation, each with extensive experience in the repair and adaptive reuse of nationally and internationally significant heritage buildings. Their portfolio includes the award‑winning conservation and reuse of the 200‑year‑old Shrewsbury Flaxmill for English Heritage in the UK, an industrial building closely comparable in scale, form and historical significance to the Flaxmill.
For the construction phase, Sisk has assembled a team of highly skilled craftspeople, including specialist stonemasons, timber experts and ironwork professionals, who will carry out the conservation‑led stabilisation and repair works. Their expertise ensures that the building is treated with the precision, traditional craftsmanship and respect required for a structure of such heritage importance.
Phase I forms part of the broader Cleeves Riverside Quarter programme, which will transform the former industrial site on the banks of the River Shannon into a new, connected urban neighbourhood.
Limerick Twenty Thirty submitted a planning application in November for Phase II, the first major ‘build’ phase of the project. The planning application provides for the delivery of a mixed-tenure residential and student neighbourhood accommodating approximately 1,000 people, including 234 high-quality homes and 270 purpose-built student rooms.
The plans also include 299 sq m of commercial space, a crèche, and almost two acres of high-quality public realm, featuring new parks, plazas and gardens, including the Reservoir/Quarry Park, Flaxmill Square, and a Riverside Corridor connecting the site to the wider city.
The development will support both city-scale events and everyday recreation, with opportunities for water-based activity arising from the on-site reservoir and proximity to the River Shannon.
Roy Browne, Senior Contracts Manager, Sisk said: “Following the successful completion of Phase One of One Opera Square, Sisk is pleased to partner once again with Limerick Twenty Thirty on Phase One of the Cleeves Riverside Quarter. We have begun mobilising on site and look forward to commencing stabilisation and repair works. Our team, together with our specialist local supply chain partners, is committed to ensuring that the history and integrity of the flaxmill is preserved for future generations.”
Kieran O’Donnell, Minister of State for Older People and Housing said: “I am pleased to mark this significant milestone in the regeneration of the landmark Cleeves site in Limerick City Centre. This project will deliver a high-quality mixed-use development that brings together new homes, commercial space, educational facilities, along with an enhanced public realm. Supported by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the Stabilisation and Repair works of the Flaxmill building phase reflects this Government's commitment to balanced regional growth and delivery of critical infrastructure that will enable the building of homes and the regeneration of urban communities. The works to the Flaxmill as a protected structure are a crucial first step in unlocking the full potential of the site and I look forward to seeing the project progress and the benefits it will bring to the new Cleeves Riverside Quarter and Limerick City for many years to come”.
James Collins, Chairman of Limerick Twenty Thirty said: “The commencement of Phase I works at the Flaxmill is a hugely important moment for Limerick. This building is an integral part of the city’s industrial heritage, and these carefully planned stabilisation and repair works ensure it will be protected, respected and repurposed as part of a vibrant new city quarter. With works now underway on site and planning lodged for Phase II, the project is moving decisively from vision to delivery. This is a major step forward for Limerick City Centre and for the sustainable reuse of our historic assets.”