Government "use it or lose it" property measures a tiny step in the right direction - Ellis
Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has
welcomed plans by the Department of Environment to implement a "use it or
lose it" policy with regard to properties which are lying idle but says
more could be done. He made his comments following the release of a range of
new planning proposals by Minister Alan Kelly.
Deputy Ellis continued:
"This is a welcome step. Our towns and cities are blighted by vacant sites
or disused building which have been left to rot. It is about time we took some
measures to rejuvenate our communities by forcing developers and property
owners to make use of their assets. But unfortunately the policy is only a tiny
step in the right direction and much more could be done
“The government’s plans would require planning permission applicants for
housing developments of 10 houses or more to provide a development schedule. If
by this date the development is not progressed in line with the schedule, the
planning permission can be modified or reduced. This is an improvement but not
strong enough at all.
“Councils should be empowered to take control of such developments completed or
not if they have been unused for an extended period. The owners should be asked
to produce a plan for development of the site - if one is not produced the
council should be empowered to take control of the property for a period to use
for the benefit of the community.
“With rents for homes so high and so many businesses struggling to keep afloat
it is a disgrace that so many office buildings, shop fronts and sites lie idle
and much of them are deteriorating due to lack of even the most basic upkeep by
owners. They are not just an eyesore in our urban centres but a missed
opportunity for urban rejuvenation."