'Unfair' to say no effort has been made to purchase Vernon Mount, says Cork city councillor

A member of Cork City Council has taken issue with a claim that no effort has been made to compulsorily purchase one of Cork’s most significant derelict stately homes.

Last July, Cork City Council took the decision to name the new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the N40 the ‘Vernon Mount Bridge’ after the adjacent Vernon Mount site, which has fallen into extreme dereliction in recent years.

Vernon Mount House, a neo-classical Georgian mansion built in the 1780s and overlooking the South Ring road, had contained significant murals by 18th century artist Nathaniel Grogan. 

In private ownership since the 1990s, the house had fallen into ruin after an investment company was refused planning permission for a hotel and residential property development on the site.

Following years of anti-social behaviour, the building was badly damaged in a fire in 2016, three years after Cork County Council had used its powers under the 2000 Planning and Development Act and intervened to repair a leaking roof, at a cost of €170,000.

In 2019, following the city boundary extension, Vernon Mount came under the jurisdiction of Cork City Council, and in December 2020, Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan succeeded in getting the property placed on the Derelict Sites Register, making the owners liable for an annual levy of 7% of its market value.

Calls for CPO

Since then, Peter Horgan, the Labour Party’s local election candidate in Cork City South East, has consistently called on the city council to purchase Vernon Mount and last year Mr O’Callaghan made a similar call.

Labour Party TD for Cork East, Seán Sherlock, was recently told by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe that the Office of Public Works (OPW) was “not aware of any attempt by Cork City Council to compulsorily acquire the property.”

Mr Horgan last week said it was ironic that the city council had named its newest pedestrian bridge after Vernon Mount, while the historic property had been allowed to fall into dereliction. He criticised the council for not attempting to purchase the site.

“It’s frankly shocking how disinterested authorities are in this piece of history of Cork. The OPW seem to be making every effort to not get involved, while the onus remains on the council to take the first steps,” Mr Horgan said.

Responding to Mr Horgan’s comments, Mr O’Callaghan said it was unfair to say the city council had done nothing to compulsorily purchase the site.

“I was instrumental in getting Vernon Mount placed on the Derelict Sites Register in late 2020, and the policy of Cork City Council is that, after a site has been on the Derelict Sites Register for three years, it is then put on a list to be considered for a compulsory purchase order.

“I know for a fact that Vernon Mount is now on that list, but unfortunately a determination has been made that it will not be subject to a compulsory purchase order this year. However, it is on the list for consideration.

“It remains on the list, and I will be raising the matter again, so it isn’t correct to say that nothing has been done to bring it into public ownership,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

A Cork City Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Cork City Council has engaged with a range of parties with an interest in the site.”