Nine former Limerick pubs set to be turned into 20 new homes

Donal O'Regan, 18 Aug


PLANNING has been sought to turn nine former pubs in Limerick into 20
residential units in two years

Minister of Housing Darragh O'Brien released the figures which cover
2022 and 2023.

Planning exemptions introduced in 2018, removed the requirement for
planning permission for the conversion of certain types of vacant
commercial property into residential units. In 2022, the exemption was
extended to allow vacant pubs to be converted into homes.

In 2022 and 2023, 92 notifications relating to pubs were received by
local authorities across the country with the intention to create 295
new homes. In Limerick, the figure was nine pubs with the potential for
20 new homes.

READ MORE: Limerick derelict properties in demand as six sell at
auction

Mr O’Brien said said converting empty buildings into forever homes is a
key component of Housing for All.

"These figures show that policies which have eased the planning burden
for those who wish to convert unoccupied commercial premises, including
pubs, into residential use are helping to increase supply, tackle
vacancy and renew urban areas.

"I’ve visited counties and got to see first-hand the impact of turning
what was once a vacant pub into five or six new apartments. It makes
sense to provide the exemptions and to make it easier for people to
convert commercial buildings into high-quality homes," said Mr O'Brien.

Visit www.gov.ie/vacancy to see all supports available to bring vacant
properties back into use.

Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Alan Dillion
added: “This is one of a suite of measures which has proved effective
in encouraging property owners to convert vacant commercial buildings
to residential use such as ‘above shop’ living. Bringing vacant and
derelict properties back into reuse can be a catalyst for regeneration
and revitalisation, bringing vibrancy back to communities.”

Other Government initiatives to tackle vacancy, include increased
resources for local authorities’ Vacant Homes Offices, the Repair and
Lease Scheme which provides property owners with a loan to restore a
property in return for guaranteed rent by leasing the property out for
social housing, and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant which
offers grants of up to €70,000 to turn a vacant property into a
permanent home.