Appeals Launched Against Additions to Vacant Sites Register

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Two separate appeals are being taken to An Bord Pleanala against a decision by Clare County Council to add sites to its Vacant Site Register.

The local authority has begun to add sites to the Register in recent months, meaning some landowners will have to pay a levy on the value of the land.

Clare FM’s James Mulhall reports.

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Councils throughout the country were directed to compile Vacant Sites Registers at the beginning of 2017, in a bid to ensure that land which could be used for housing was not left fallow.

However, it was late last year before sites began to be added to the register in Clare – it currently contains six sites, all in the Ennis area.

But now, as is permitted under law, appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála in respect of two of those – one in the Drumcliffe area of Ennis, and the other in the Millbank part of the town.

A decision by the planning appeals authority on whether the Council was correct to add them is expected in June.

The register sees an annual charge of up to 7% of the value of the site levied on their owners if the land in question is deemed to be vacant.

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Two seperate appeals are being taken to An Bord Pleanala against a decision by Clare County Council to add sites to its Vacant Site Register.

As part of a directive under national legislation, Clare County Council launched its Vacant Sites Register at the beginning of 2017 and it currently contains six sites.

But now, as is permitted under law, appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála in respect of two of those – one in the Drumcliffe area of Ennis, and the other in the Millbank part of the town.

A decision on whether the Council was correct to add them is expected in June.

The register is designed to prevent people from hoarding land, and sees a charge of up to 7% of the value of the site levied on their owners if they do not bring the sites into use.