Waterford local authority has no interest in Kilmeaden development site

Officials in the Comeragh Municipal District of Waterford City and County Council have “quelled rumours” the local authority is interested in taking over a planned housing development in Kilmeaden, after the developer involved went into liquidation.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the district meeting by Fianna Fáil’s, Cllr John O’Leary.

Cllr O’Leary said there was widespread speculation, locally, over the matter and asked for clarification from officials.

Having pointed out that the development company involved had gone into liquidation after submitting a planning permission application for a number of houses in Kilmeaden, Cllr O’Leary said: “It’s in the range of between maybe 25 and 30 houses.” “However, I believe that company has gone into liquidation and no longer operates,” he added, before commenting: “There is right speculation in Kilmeaden that Waterford City and County Council purchased  this site and will continue to finish the building of those houses.” Cllr O’Leary then pointed out that while a lot of houses are being built in Kilmeaden, what’s not wanted is people getting anxious

what’s not wanted is people getting anxious

' and upset about what he described as “derelict sites”.

“I would regard them as almost derelict sites, non-completed building sites,” he said.

With Cllr O’Leary having asked for clarification as to whether the local authority was in the process of buying the property in question, Director of Services for Housing, Community & Emergency Services, Ivan Grimes, said: “The site in Kilmeaden is on the open market and it’s not something we are pushing to acquire.” “I want to be very clear about that,” said Mr Grimes.

He said he passed the site in question a few days previous to the meeting and saw an estate agent showing it to a developer and commented: “It’s my understanding there is quite significant interest in it from developers but it’s not a site we are interested in buying.” “I am happy to quell that rumour,” he said.