LIMERICK City and County Council has signalled an escalation of its efforts to tackle the problem of derelict sites with the launch of a major programme of Compulsory Purchase Orders.
The local authority has given notice to compulsorily acquire eight derelict properties under the derelict sites and housing acts this week. The Council has also published confirmation notices of the completed compulsory acquisition on a further two derelict properties.
In 2018 the Council completed over 500 inspections of derelict properties.
Commenting on the step up of efforts on reducing dereliction, Council Director of Services Gordon Daly told the Limerick Post that owners of derelict properties are first offered advice on how to deal with their derelict properties and a range of options including the Lease and Repair Scheme, Buy and Renew Scheme and the Business Retail Incentive Scheme.
“Our message to communities is that we are listening to your concerns on dereliction and we are stepping up our efforts to deal with this issue across the city and county. Our message to owners of derelict properties is simple. Please engage with the Council or if not it will use the full range of statutory powers available to it including the imposition of levies and compulsory acquisition,” he said.
In early 2019, the Council also plans to use its powers to impose a derelict sites levy on further additional derelict sites. This annual levy is due to rise next year from three per cent to seven per cent of market value.
