Council confirms use of CPOs for derelict Cork properties

Cork City Council has announced its intention to compulsorily acquire six derelict properties across Leeside, the majority of which have sat on the derelict sites register for more than three years.

Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan recently approved a notice of intention announcing the compulsory purchase order (CPO), under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, which would see the 3 Ardcaoin Villas, 8 Grange Terrace, “Levista” 25 Bernadette Way, 115 Gardiner’s Hill, Monerea House, and 5 and 6 Woods St (considered as a single property) acquired.

The notice states that any owner, lessee or occupier, except a tenant who has occupied the property for a month or less, may submit an objection to Cork City Council opposing the CPO of any of the properties listed on or before February 4, 2026. The Derelict Sites Act, 1990, as amended by the Planning and Development Act, 2000, provides that if an objection is made to the proposed CPO of a derelict site, and the objection is not withdrawn, the derelict site shall not be acquired without the consent of An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Speaking to The Echo, a council spokesperson said the authority is “focused on addressing dereliction and ensuring these properties are returned to use”.

“In cases where the owner of a derelict property can be identified, there is extensive engagement with them before a property is placed on the derelict sites register and afterwards to encourage and assist owners to remove dereliction. The success of this approach is seen from the number of sites returned to use annually,” said the spokesperson. 

“The number of sites returned to use annually following work by the derelict sites team has more than tripled, with 229 properties returned to use in 2024. This figure has already been surpassed in 2025.

“Currently, there are 159 sites on the derelict sites register with a significant number of other sites under investigation. The number of sites on the register and those under investigation has more than doubled since 2023,” they added.

“Sites placed on the register which fail to remove dereliction are subject to levies at 7% of the property values, [and] levy collection has increased by more than 300% between 2022 and 2024 to over €500,000 per annum, the highest collection figure nationally.

“When all other efforts have failed, the city council will seek to use the CPO mechanism to remove dereliction.”

Any objection must be submitted in writing, stating the grounds of the objection and addressed to the Local Authority at: to Property Department, Cork City Council, City Hall, Cork, T12 T997.