Four dozen sites worth over €8.5 million on Laois Derelict Sites Register
Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick, Rathdowney and Stradbally all contain sites on the list
Laois County Council’s Derelict Sites Register contains four dozen sites across the county worth over €8.5 million.
The sites - many of which include properties and are listed by their location and market value- are at various stages of interaction with the Laois County Council. The list was updated in April and some of the sites may have since been sold or put to use.
In total, Laois County Council has listed 48 sites including 17 in Portlaoise, eight in Mountmellick, six in Portarlington, five in Rathdowney, four in Ballinakill, two in Stradbally, two in Mountrath and one each in Vicarstown, Ballyroan, Ballybrittas and Crettyard.
They have been listed according to their Eircode locations and estimated market value, former and possible intended use. The sites include some landmarks such as a convent, a national school and a former shopping centre.
Market values totaling €8,595,000 were provided for 43 of the sites but values were not assigned to five of the sites.
The Council maintains a Derelict Sites Register in accordance with the Derelict Sites Act 1990 which is kept in the Regeneration Section, Laois County Council.
The information includes the name and address of each derelict site owner and occupier, actions taken by the Council and the market value of the site.
According to Laois County Council, “sites entered on the Register are subject to an annual derelict site levy of 7% of the market value of the site in the first year and up to 10% of the market value in any subsequent years. This levy will continue to apply until the site is rendered non-derelict.”
“Unpaid levies incur interest of 1.25% per month. Outstanding levies automatically become a charge on the land and will remain a charge until the levy amount is paid in full. The Council registers charges in Land Registry / The Registry of Deeds so if and when a Derelict Site with a charge registered on it is subject to a sale, purchasers will require vendors to have the charge removed as part of the conveyance process,” the Council stated.
They also said any sites entered on the Derelict Sites Register may be considered for acquisition, either compulsorily or by agreement, by the Council.
Laois County Council said anyone who owns a Derelict Site and wants to appeal a valuation made on it on behalf of the local authority, contact the Valuation Tribunal within 28 days of receiving the notice of valuation.