Council cleared to acquire derelict site in Carlow Town

An Bord Pleánala has approved the compulsory acquisition of a derelict building at Kennedy Street close to the centre of Carlow Town.

Carlow County Council initiated CPO proceedings last year and the application was referred to An Bord Pleánala after the owner of the property and an associated yard objected.

The site comprises a boarded-up commercial property with no roof, a section of street frontage with an overgrown forecourt, and a building with part of the roof missing. According to planning documents, the rear of the site shares a boundary with an open yard containing building materials.

In his report, planning inspector Peter Nelson noted that the owner of the property had submitted that the site is not derelict and has been used by a construction company as a yard to store building materials, JCBs and vans after planning permission for a proposed development was refused in 2003.

In its submission, the local authority stated the property has been vacant since at least 2009 and that the site is ideal for a multi-unit housing development. It added that Kennedy Street represents a key area currently being targeted for regeneration.

In response to the objection, the local authority confirmed that the yard which is being used to store building materials and heavy machinery is not part of the application.

In his report, Mr Nelson added that the owner’s son contacted some property developers he knows after the CPO proceedings were initiated and requested an extension of time to allow him to put the property on the open market.

READ ALSO: An Bord Pleanála approves compulsory acquisition of vacant cottage in rural Carlow

However, recommending that the council be allowed to compulsorily acquire the site, Mr Nelson stated he is of the opinion ghat the property is in a dangerous condition and can be considered ruinous.

"The building is vacant and has a neglected, unsightly and objectionable appearance from the public road. The shop front and windows have been boarded up. The top section of the gable-fronted elevation and the original roof have been removed.
Vegetation is growing from the upper walls. A section of the roof of the building to the rear of the site is missing and in a dangerous condition," he wrote.

At a meeting in February, the board adopted the planning inspector's recommendation and formally approved the council application.