THE owners of derelict and vacant buildings in West Cork are encouraged to come forward and avail of council supports designed to regenerate our towns and villages.

There are currently 127 properties on Cork County Council’s Derelict Sites Register, which is a net increase of 75% compared to the end of 2023.

A total of 40 of the sites are located within the Western Divisional primarily in locations such as Kinsale, Clonakilty, Dunmanway, Bandon and Bantry.

Dereliction, degeneration and vacancy are issues that frequently make headlines. However progress is being made, even if it’s not immediately visible, says the Council’s Town Regeneration Officer (TRO) Noelle Desmond.

‘Bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use is one of the key components in stimulating regeneration. Engaging with property owners is a key part of tackling vacancy and dereliction and it is often the case that owners simply aren’t aware of the options available to them. We actively seek and welcome engagement from owners of such properties to direct them towards the many available supports and to encourage them be a part of regenerating their community,’ she said.

Reflecting the scale of West Cork and the county as a whole, the local authority set up a Town Regeneration Office comprising a team of 11.

And while tackling vacancy and dereliction is a main objective, so is the provision of public realm improvements, greenways, essential infrastructure, libraries and playgrounds.

‘All of these amenities contribute to making our communities better places to work, to visit and to live,’ said Noelle.

As part of a residential vacancy survey, a total of 2,856 properties have been assessed.

And before a property is put on the derelict register, the TRO first engages with owners to make them aware of supports available to bring their property back into use. Options include applying for planning permission, putting the property up for sale or availing of schemes such as Croí Cónaithe, Repair and Lease, Buy and Renew.

‘Compulsory acquisition as a property activation method is generally a last resort pursued by Local Authorities when all other efforts have been unsuccessful in bringing a property back into use. To date, since the TRO was established, eight properties in Cork County have been successfully compulsorily acquired under the Derelict Sites Act and two under the Housing Act. Four of these properties are in located within our Western Divisional Area,’ said a spokesperson.

There is an appetite for change as is evident from TRO Vacancy and Regeneration Drop-in Days in libraries last April and May when owners of 199 individual vacant or derelict properties engaged.

Meanwhile, the TRO and local Municipal District offices recently received 199 applications for the 2025 Streetscape Enhancement Scheme – 64 of these were for properties in the Western Divisional area.

Through this scheme, tenants or owners of occupied buildings in key locations within towns may apply for financial assistance to improve the appearance of these buildings, with priority given to occupied commercial premises. The overall objective of the scheme is streetscape enhancement to create greater vibrancy on main thoroughfares in towns.

Cork County Mayor Cllr Mary Linehan Foley highlighted that vacancy and dereliction is not solely the responsibility of the Council.

‘We are appealing to owners of vacant and derelict properties to get in touch with our Town Regeneration Office or Vacant Homes Office to discuss the many options available to help bring their properties back into use. Revitalising vacant and derelict properties is a valuable and transformative process that will ultimately breathe new life into our town centres.’

Chief executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell added: ‘There has been significant engagement from the communities we have been working with to participate in public consultation processes and plans to guide this development.

‘Alongside these communities, and the vital voice of our elected members of Council, we are striving for town and village centres that are inclusive, attractive and vibrant places to live, work and visit.’

(Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.)