Breathing new life into our towns and villages... We need to move faster

Projects to revive and revitalise derelict buildings and vacant properties are underway but frustrations have been voiced at the length of time its taking to turn abandoned buildings into thriving living spaces

An initiative to transform derelict sites around the county has potential but the council needs to put more pressure on owners to clean up their properties that's according to local volunteer groups and representatives.

There are currently 36 properties in Co, Meath on the derelict sites register. Of the 36, eleven are in Kells, eight in Navan, seven in Trim, three in Ratoath, four in Laytown/Bettystown and two in Ashbourne.

Calls to tackle the problem follows an announcement earlier this year that local authorities will receive an additional €150m to buy vacant derelict buildings in cities and towns to make them available for housing under a new plan.

Trim Cllr Trevor Golden recently tabled a motion calling on the council to update the register of derelict sites in the district, a report expected to be presented at this month's municipal meeting. He stressed that sites in the district that have been derelict for some time but are not on the derelict sites register

"The report coming to us in March to see what can be done to address those sites and how are they being actioned.

"Going on the register itself is only the start of the process dereliction is an issue and we have to try to get the system working correctly.

"There is a lot of good programmes both locally and nationally to address this issue, however the uptake isn't there in some cases so we need to understand why people are not availing of the supports that local government are providing.

"There is also a follow on step from derelict sites where it's dangerous structures where you have everything from broken glass to the slates on the roof not secure. There is a duty of care to keep a building safe and not let it fall into dereliction."

Local Cllr Sean Drew- says a regeneration plans in Kells is "a prime example" of how acquiring derelict properties can transform a town and create additional housing.

As part of this plan a proposed 47 social housing units with a mix of apartments and houses will be developed on Carrick Street and Maudlin Street. A decision on the project was due in January of this year but has been delayed until late March.

The plans have been drawn up by Dundalk based Van Dyke Architects and will see nine derelict units refurbished to provide 11 new residential units as well as the construction of 36 new homes.

"The project ticks a lot of boxes, it revitalises two streets," said Cllr Drew. It is utilising derelict properties and redeveloping wasteland at the back of those properties. It's called a regeneration scheme and that's exactly what it is.

"All of the services are on stream already, the sewerage, the power, the water because those houses were occupied up until a certain period of time. It makes complete sense to get them back into housing stock."

Meanwhile work is due to commence in Navan on the multi million euro revamp of Flowerhill under the Urban regeneration project.

In January 2019 Meath County Council commissioned the preparation of an Urban Design Plan for Lands at Flowerhill and Abbeylands.

Creating a new streetscape, developing an urban quarter, a river park, and rebuilding Flowerhill were set out as aims for the ambitious development plan.

This follows two separate allocations from central government totalling over €11 million, allowing the council to acquire some derelict properties and commission the project.

"It's probably the biggest project we have had in recent years in the county," commented Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons.

"If you can imagine 60 units going in there, that's 60 families with spending power who will shop locally, you are going to need a little supermarket, a launderette, newsagents, all of these things that will follow on and will revitalise the street completely.

"There will be a much more European element in the sense that some people might not even need cars because they will have everything they need there in the hub already."

Staying in Navan, plans for a major redevelopment of the former Spicers Bakery site and Andy Brennan Park is also in motion.

Central to the plan is the demolition of four derelict houses and the creation of a stepped plaza area which will form the entrance to the redesigned Andy Brennan Park

Also part of the plan is the conservation and preservation of the original Spicers Bakery building which is a protected structure and the demolition of outbuildings and sheds. In later phases of the development, the Council intends to restore the bakery building, which operated from the late 19th Century until 2012.

Commenting on the initiative, a spokesperson for Meath County Council said:

"Meath County Council have established a team that includes the Town Regeneration Officer, Derelict Sites Officer and the Vacant Sites Officer.

"The team will collaboratively work together to deliver on the objectives of Housing for All , Our Rural Future , investigation of derelict sites and the recently announced Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croi Conaithe Fund.

"This is a unique approach by a Local Authority to achieve key objectives such as social and economic revival in towns, the provision of housing, as well as addressing challenges of derelict buildings and vacant properties."