Westmeath County Council received 35 notifications for the conversion of commercial properties to residential units under planning exemptions between 2018 to 2023.
If each notification is realised, it has the potential to deliver 85 new dwellings throughout the county. Under the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022, certain types of vacant commercial property can be converted into residential units without planning permission. These regulations will remain in place until the end of 2025.
According to figures by the Department of Housing, no notifications were issued in 2018 followed by two in 2019. The proposed conversion of these two commercial properties would result in two new residential units if realised. Four notifications were issued in 2020 with potential for seven residential units. 13 notifications were issued in 2021 with the potential for 32 residential units. Nine notifications were issued in 2022 with the potential for 20 residential units. Seven notifications were issued in 2023 with the potential for 24 residential units.
“Housing is the number one problem that I’m experiencing as a public representative,” Cllr Mick Dollard told Topic.
He said there is an “urgent need” for further residential development and believes more houses could have been delivered under planning exemptions to date. The independent councillor added that the conversion of vacant properties is the responsibility of property owners. Cllr Dollard said Mullingar needs an influx of between 1,500 and 2,000 units to solve the “under-supply” of housing.
“It’s up to the property owners in cases like this. The motivation is there and the financial reward is there. They have to get up and make use of those properties.”
VACANT
The independent councillor said there were ample dwellings in Mullingar years ago but added that many of these units were converted to commercial properties over time. Cllr Dollard said he has “raised this ad nauseam at County Council level”.
“You go down the town of Mullingar at night time, the only place where you see a bit of light is in a public house, a hotel or a restaurant. Upstairs over all the retail and commercial units — there’s a huge deficit there for residential development,” he said.
Vacant and derelict buildings have been a standing order in Council meetings for years now. Cllr Dollard said these buildings should be used to provide residential units in Mullingar. He added that the government needs to make greater efforts to incentivise property owners to do this.
“There’s a story behind every derelict building. I know of people who have three and four buildings that are unoccupied. I’ve advised them about the grants that are available and that they should do something with them and convert them to residential units. Some people just want to leave them like that for various reasons,” said Cllr Dollard.
“If people aren’t prepared to do something about vacant buildings this is where the government needs to move in and have penalty charges.”
