Waterford City and County Council addressing 331 'derelict' or 'potentially derelict' properties
The team are addressing 331 properties that are classed as either 'derelict' or 'potentially derelict'.
Waterford City and County Council have listed 113 properties on the Derelict Sites register.
The latest Plenary Planning Report showed that the Council are currently engaged in over 300 sites labelled as 'derelict' or 'potentially derelict'.
The Active Land Management and Derelict Sites Team stated in the report: "The team is currently addressing a total of 331 properties classified as either derelict or potentially derelict.
"In recent weeks and months, there has been a significant increase in activity, with 113 properties now listed on the Derelict Sites Register. Engaging with property owners or their representatives is essential for addressing dereliction issues and understanding the numerous factors that contribute to the properties' current condition."
The report continued: "The level of activity in the property market concerning vacant and derelict properties has notably increased. Among the properties we have identified as derelict, several have been reintroduced to the private market voluntarily, with some currently at the 'sale agreed' or 'to let' stages."
The team are informing owners of vacant sites about the vacant property refurbishment grants available to them. April 2025 saw 13 new files opened for derelict sites in Waterford. From this figure, six files were opened under Section 8(2) Notices issued – Intention to enter the site on Derelict Sites Register; four files were opened under Section 8(7) Notices issued – Entry of site onto Derelict Sites Register; one file was opened under Section 11 Notices issued – Measures required to render the site non-derelict; and two files were opened under Notices served to Compulsorily Purchase Acquisitions (CPA).
The team further stated: "In April 2025, the derelict sites team successfully collaborated with property owners to remove several properties from dereliction, thus alleviating their derelict status. At the time of writing this report, we have successfully closed 91 cases."
As of May 28, 2025, there are 118 sites on the Derelict Sites Register. The combined market value is upwards of millions of euros. There is a Derelict Site Levy in place for building owners to pay, however, only a percentage of the levy is paid back to the Council. The derelict site levy is 7% of the estimated market value of the land stipulated.
In April 2025, the Metropolitan District received 44 planning applications, an increase on last year's figure of 37 during the same period. Over 15 applications were made to the Heritage Council's Community Heritage Schemes; "ranging from conservation repairs to heritage buildings, to website development, geophysical surveys and heritage management plans. The outcome will be known by end of May."
Waterford Council has also been allocated €230,000 for four projects under the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government’s Community Monuments Fund as follows; Conservation Management Plan for Dunhill Castle and Graveyard - €29,963.22, Conservation Works to Blackfriars Abbey, Waterford - €69,454; Woodstown Viking Site Festival - €1,000 and Dromana House - €130,000.
