LIMERICK City and County Council has been granted permission to purchase a number of properties across the city and county.
Among them is the former toll house on the Corbally Road, which has been derelict for some time.
An Bord Pleanála gave Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) the go-ahead to compulsorily purchase the property, despite objections from the property’s owner.
Other properties to be taken over by the Council under a compulsory purchase order include a derelict site on the Main Street in Ballingarry, a derelict site at Banogue Cross in Croom, a property at 3 High Street, Croom, and a derelict house at 26 Clare Street in the city centre.
Compulsory purchase orders allow the Council to take charge of derelict properties so as to put units or land back into active use – whether for housing, retail, or other use for the common good.
A number of other properties that LCCC sought to compulsorily purchase were turned down by An Bord Pleanála (ABP), including one owned by fast food mogul Pat McDonagh.
The Council sought permission to acquire the former Cahill’s Bar on Mulgrave Street, which it claimed “detracts from the amenity, character and appearance of the well-maintained properties in the area and is deemed derelict”.
Objecting to the purchase attempt, agents for Supermac’s and the Plaza Group, owned by Supermac’s founder Pat McDonagh, said that the building was not derelict.
Supermac’s intends to use the property as staff housing, and has carried out significant works to make the property habitable, the objection states.
“Substantial refurbishment works have been carried out. One apartment in the property is ready for occupation once public services are connected. Works continue on the remainder of the property. The owners have incurred significant costs carrying out these works,” agents for the company said.
An Bord Pleanála agreed with the fast food chain and refused to grant the Council permission to acquire the property.
Other properties the Council was refused permission to purchase were two properties on Pound Street, Ballingarry, a block of apartments on Ellen Street in the City Centre which have been under construction for a number of years, a property at Colbert Terrace, Abbeyfeale, and a derelict former pub at 39/40 Lord Edward Street.
The derelict pub on Lord Edward Street has been demolished by its owners, thus rendering the site non-derelict, ABP noted.
