Limerick City and County Council is seeking to positively engage with property owners to reduce dereliction and re-activate vacant properties in Limerick city and county. The council is urging all owners of derelict and vacant properties to contact them as soon as possible to avoid levies and possible compulsory acquisitions.
The call follows the latest in a targeted programme of tackling dereliction and vacancy with the publication of notices of intention to compulsorily acquire eight derelict properties under the Derelict Sites Act and commence three Compulsory Purchase Orders under the Housing Act.
The sites being targeted are commercial and residential properties.
The acquisitions under the Derelict sites Act 1990 and the Housing Act 1966 are part of a coordinated approach by Limerick City and County Council to deal with dereliction and vacancy across the city, towns and villages in County Limerick.
In recent months a further 15 compulsory acquisitions were commenced, with 10 of these now complete. Properties continue to be added to the Derelict Sites Register resulting in levies being imposed on site owners.
Gordon Daly, Director of Social Development with Limerick City and County Council said:
“These latest notices send out a very strong message to owners of derelict properties that we want them to take action. We are working very hard to tackle the issue of dereliction in our city and county. It is a targeted approach, it is working and we’ll be continuing with the programme in the coming weeks and months.
“The latest acquisition notices for 11 properties, added to 15 other properties in recent months, shows that the Council is determined to address the issue of dereliction. This level of enforcement activity is needed to support in particular the excellent work being done by voluntary community organisations and Tidy Towns groups in enhancing our city, towns and villages.
“I would urge all owners of derelict properties to make contact with the Urban and Rural Community Development Department in the Council to discuss their options. Owners of derelict properties are first offered advice on how to deal with their derelict properties and the range of options open to them including the Lease and Repair Scheme, Buy and Renew Scheme and the Business Retail Incentive Scheme, before any further action is taken.”
The latest properties proposed for acquisition include significant properties in Limerick city centre; 34-41 Catherine Street and 43-46 Cecil Street. Other city properties include locations such as Hyde Road, Kennedy Park and Caherdavin. In County Limerick they include properties in Cappamore, Shanagolden, Ballingarry and Ardpatrick. Other compulsory acquisitions are completed or underway in Askeaton, Herbertstown, Newcastle West, Kifinane, Abbeyfeale and Ballinagarry.