Derelict site in Mayo approved for apartment and commercial development
Planning has been granted for a retail unit and four apartments in Castlebar.
Mayo County Council has granted planning permission to local firm Jackita Limited for the demolition of an existing derelict two-storey building, and the development of a mixed-use building.
Located on Market Street in Castlebar, the new building will include a commercial unit on the ground floor, two apartments on the first floor, and another two apartments on the second level.
The development will also include bin and cycle storage at street level, along with all necessary site works and connections to existing services. Planning permission was granted subject to ten conditions.
The project comes amid growing concern over dereliction in the county as it was reported last week that County Mayo now has the most derelict properties in Ireland.
According to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report, Mayo is home to 14.1pc of the 19,821 classified derelict buildings in the country.
Mayo County Council’s official register currently lists 283 derelict properties, and in the 2025 annual budget, Chief Executive Kevin Kelly estimated a total expenditure of €139,552 for derelict sites across the county.
This planning development is a small but positive step towards tackling the problem of dereliction in Mayo. Members of the Castlebar Municipal Council have previously criticised the scale of dereliction in the county in relation to what they called a “scandalous” lack of cost-rental and affordable housing in the county.
By replacing a derelict building with four apartments and a new commercial unit, the development will both enhance Market Street and contribute to the housing needs in Mayo.
Jackita Limited are currently based on Main Street in Castlebar.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.