Louth’s €7m battle against dereliction fires up first CPO

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

The €7 million bid to tackle dereliction and vacancy in Louth has seen the CPO process begin on one property out of 129 identified under the Under Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).

Louth County Council were allocated €7million in 2023 under the government funded ‘URDF Call 3’ scheme, aimed at tackling dereliction and vacancy in town centres.

In total there are 129 properties identified, and works have been ongoing to bring long-term empty buildings and those that have fallen into disrepair back into use.

The council confirmed they are currently commencing the CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) process on one property under the scheme.

In addition, there are a further 15 properties that are under active consideration for direct council intervention through voluntary or CPO acquisition.

Chief Executive, David Conway, revealed in his monthly report to Louth councillors that: “targeted engagement continues in Drogheda and Dundalk, with multiple properties sales, or early development stages as a result of engagement.”

He added: “Meetings have taken place with new owners of properties in Drogheda and Dundalk in recent weeks, which have resulted in the preparation of full planning applications by owners with a view to returning properties to productive use.”

The local authority are expected to carry out a survey of all 129 properties listed under the URDF Call 3 to update the number of properties returned to use and or vacant.

Currently there are 25 occupied, with repair works being carried out on 10 identified properties. A further 29 are deemed as ‘progressing’ in that there is owner activity such as planning/property for sale or they are subject to a lease/grant application.

There are 45 properties subject to ongoing engagement with 19 awaiting engagement.