The university is forming a new company with Clare County Council to apply for the designation, which would transform what is understood to be around 100 hectares of its land, located across the River Shannon on the Clare side of the university.
However, in order to be able to develop at scale, UL has decided to apply for this special designation and has formed a Designated Activity company along with Clare County Council, to formally apply to the minister to seek the designation. UL President Professor Kerstin Mey said the decision to seek the designation of the lands as an SDZ is"a culmination of the joint will of both our organisations to facilitate the development of Academics of Learning and Centres of excellence on the university campus in Co Clare."
"It is a plan which would allow UL to expand over the next 50 years of its lifetime, give us more space for student accommodation as well as advanced learning and research space," she added.