Demolition of 50 unfinished houses voted through by Tipperary County Council
Tipperary County Council has voted to demolish more than 50 unfinished homes near the Rock of Cashel despite public opposition amid the housing crisis.
The local authority brought plans to knock down the partially-built houses at Ballypadeen, near the Rock of Cashel, before a special meeting of councillors, seeking permission to demolish the houses.
The council is planning to knock the buildings, which sit on the site of the former Cashel Kings Motel, because when planning permission for them was granted in the 2000s, they were to be used as holiday accommodation for a proposed hotel, which never materialised.
The houses came as part of a plan to build an international trade centre, international arbitration centre, an aparthotel with 176 bedrooms, 32 apartment suites complete with restaurants, lounge bars, conference rooms and function rooms, leisure centre and swimming pools.
Only the houses were ever built on the site, with works stopping after a few years, with a lengthy legal battle involving the council and the developers of the site.
The site has remained vacant for more than 20 years, while the council and landowner were involved in a legal dispute.
Under a compromise agreement reached following the case, Tipperary County Council will demolish the structures before handing the site back to the owner.
The plans to demolish the half-built houses were met with outrage by local TDs, councillors and members of the public, with many calling for the houses to be brought into use in light of Ireland’s housing crisis.
However, Sinead Carr, chief executive of Tipperary County Council, said that current planning policy does not allow for a residential development at this location.
"This has been a complex and sensitive case, and we fully recognise the strength of public feeling, particularly in the context of the current housing crisis,” she said.
"However, the council must make decisions based on planning law, policy, and the long-term sustainable development of the area.” Ms Carr added.
The site that the unfinished houses sit on is currently unzoned, unserviced, and sits outside the settlement boundary of Cashel town, which makes a housing development unsuitable, according to current planning rules.
Technical assessments of the houses also uncovered significant defects with the structures.
Councillors at the meeting were told that it would cost more than €24million to bring the houses up to a liveable standard, but that significant demolition would be needed anyway.
The costs of demolition will be covered by the council’s insurer, but a figure has not been released by the local authority.