Call for empty buildings in Cork to be used for arts and business purposes to tackle dereliction

Cork County Council called on to facilitate 'meanwhile use' of vacant and derelict buildings in West Cork as they await longer-term development

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse

Empty buildings across West Cork should be put to use for arts, small business and community purposes in an effort to combat dereliction according to Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse.

Ms Towse raised the issue in a motion proposed to the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Division that asked: “That the Western Division of Cork County Council would develop a strategy to encourage and facilitate 'meanwhile-use' of vacant and derelict buildings in West Cork.” The motion was seconded by her party colleague Ann Bambury.

Meanwhile use is the temporary use of empty buildings for various purposes while they await longer-term development or occupancy, said Ms Towse, and examples of uses include pop-up shops, street markets and exhibition spaces.

Ms Towse said: “I am appealing to the council to do everything within its power to facilitate and indeed encourage meanwhile use, in both public and private buildings where possible. The commercial vacancy rate in Cork county is 12.4%, much higher than our European counterparts.

“This has a negative impact on a town's economy and the health and wellbeing of the community. 

Meanwhile, artists are crying out for spaces to create and put on cultural activities; organisations and community groups need places to meet; and micro businesses would benefit from affordable retail spaces. 

"All of this would boost economic development and innovation, attract tourism, and improve the liveability of towns, and importantly, tackle problematic vacancy and dereliction.”

Ms Towse said a good example was the case of the Clonakilty Community Arts Centre, which is facing eviction from its current location as the building was due to be sold. She said a short distance away, the former Clonakilty Fire Station building was currently unoccupied.

She added: “Overall I think we need to develop a model for meanwhile use that would respond to the unique needs of towns and villages in West Cork. We must remember that the most sustainable building is an existing one.”

Keith Jones, director of asset management and land development at Cork County Council, said the council was committed to engaging with the owners of vacant and derelict buildings to bring them back into productive use for the social and economic benefit of communities.

Divisional manger Michael Lynch said the new formed directorate of asset management and land development was conducting a strategic review of derelict and unoccupied buildings with the aim of developing a strategy to tackle dereliction, and meanwhile use would be part of the overall plan.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme