Latest news with #derelict
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Vacant property in central Dublin
Sir, – What is it about the Irish tax code (or the broader set of incentives faced by property owners in Ireland, Dublin especially) that makes it more lucrative to leave properties derelict, often for many years, rather than develop them for retail or, better yet, housing? On a recent visit to Dublin, I was struck by the number of derelict buildings on almost every street in the city centre. On the same trip I visited Madrid, and in an evening ramble around central Madrid I failed to see a single derelict site. Is there not some low hanging fruit here that could be picked to quickly address the housing problem in Dublin? – Yours, etc. READ MORE MARK A WYNNE, Dallas, Texas.
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Row of partially collapsed houses in south Dublin demolished
A row of derelict Victorian cottages in Ranelagh, south Dublin , that partially collapsed last week have now been demolished. They were owned by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). The roof of one property along the five-house terrace, which faced the canal close to Ranelagh Road, collapsed on May 12th, propelling the front wall out into the path and road. The houses were located at 2-6 Dunville Terrace. The row of houses, dating from the late 19th century, had been on Dublin City Council's Derelict Sites Register since June, 2023. It emerged last week the construction lobby group, which had owned the row of houses since the 1990s, had failed to pay more than €140,000 in derelict site levies it owed to the council . The CIF had earlier secured an agreement to sell the derelict houses to a developer as part of a deal on a wider site worth €23 million. An inspector from the council's Dangerous Buildings Section last week attended the site and directed the CIF to remove 'all deleterious materials from the public footpath and roadway', and to 'make safe the remaining structures adjacent the highly trafficked roadway'. READ MORE By last Friday, the mid-terrace house that collapsed had been demolished. The rest of the terrace has now been removed. Four years ago, the CIF and the Construction Workers Pension Scheme agreed the sale of the adjoining sites to international property developer Osborne + Co, for a sum understood to be in the region of €23 million. The sale was subject to Osborne securing planning permission for a redevelopment scheme. An application was made in October, 2022 by Rimor Fortis, an Osborne company, for the demolition of all buildings on-site, including the derelict terrace and another free-standing cottage used as a bike repair shop, and their replacement with an eight-storey office scheme. Planning permission was granted last September, but the sale had not completed ahead of the collapse of the cottage last week. The collapse of the roof, which had become heavily overgrown with moss and ivy, happened just after 8am on Monday of last week. An eyewitness said debris was scattered over the cycle lane and into the road, narrowly missing a cyclist and a pedestrian walking their dog. Until recently, the terrace was covered by a banner advertising a CIF construction safety campaign. The CIF said previous assessment of the buildings had determined they were 'structurally safe'. The CIF did not respond to queries in relation to its decision to fully demolish the terrace on Tuesday.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Collapsed Victorian cottage in Ranelagh is owned by Construction Industry Federation
A terrace of derelict Victorian cottages in Dublin 6 which partially collapsed into the road along the Grand Canal on Monday morning, is owned by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) it has emerged. The terrace was until recently covered by a banner advertising a CIF construction safety campaign. In a statement on Monday CIF director general said: 'The external wall of one of the cottages collapsed, which is on the CIF complex on Canal Road. We immediately liaised with Dublin City Council and have taken prompt measures to cordon off the area for public safety. A team has been appointed to carry out works on the site and take appropriate action.' The houses at 2-6 Dunville Terrace, facing the Canal close to Ranelagh Road, have been listed on Dublin City Council's Derelict Site Register since June 2023, but have been growing in dilapidation for decades. READ MORE A collapsed house on Canal Road, Ranelagh, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times The CIF has owned the houses since the 1990s and has included them in a number of development applications over the last 20 years. The organisation was last September granted permission for a major redevelopment of its office buildings Canal House and Construction House, next to Dunville Terrace. The new eight-storey office scheme included the demolition of all buildings on site, including the late 19th century terrace and another freestanding cottage currently used as a bike repair shop. [ Tenants win €3,000 from landlord who told them he was selling house, but re-let it Opens in new window ] An Bord Pleanála granted permission against the recommendation of its senior inspector Gillian Kane who said the 'dismissal of the Cottage and Dunville Terrace is a systematic failure'. In her report to the board she said: 'The loss of historic fabric from Dunville Terrace is regrettable, notwithstanding the state of dereliction. The re-use of the structures within a larger re-development of the site is considered to be a lost opportunity.' A collapsed house on Canal Road, Ranelagh, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times However, the board said while the demolition was 'significant' there was 'sufficient justification for it'. The CIF did not give a start date for redevelopment on Monday but said it was 'currently planning development of the site in accordance with the planning permission'.
