Three homes in Cork estate that have been vacant for almost two decades finally handed over to council

The houses, built as part of a private development in the mid-2000s but never occupied, remain empty despite remedial works beginning earlier this year

The vacant houses in Copper Valley Heights, Glanmire, Co Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Three local authority-owned houses in Glanmire that have stood empty since they were built almost two decades ago have been handed over to Cork City Council.

However, there is still no timeline for when the homes in the Copper Valley Heights estate will be occupied, despite remedial works beginning more than two months ago.

The properties were constructed as part of a private housing development in the mid-2000s and transferred to Cork County Council, but were never completed or lived in.

A neighbour, who bought her house in the estate as a newbuild 18 years ago, said the properties had never been occupied — and the floors were not even finished.

When the city boundary expanded to areas including Glanmire in 2019, these homes should have been transferred to Cork City Council.

When the issue was first reported in March of this year, Cork City Council said the three properties remained in the ownership of Cork County Council, which had “encountered legal issues with title”.

Both local authorities said in response to Freedom of Information requests for information about the properties that they did not hold the records, leaving uncertainty about who was responsible for them.

In May, Labour councillor John Maher was told by the council’s acting director of housing, Adrian Quinn, that works had begun to get the homes ready for occupation.

He said the county council was still the owner of the properties, and were “actively endeavouring to resolve final legal issues”.

Mr Quinn added: “Cork City Council has commenced remedial works on the properties, in anticipation of formal disposal, having entered into a licence agreement with the county council to take possession and prepare the properties for use and occupation.” 

The county council has now confirmed it approved the transfer of the properties to the city council in June.

Cork City Council did not respond to a request for information about the status of the houses, whether works have been completed, and when the homes will finally be occupied.

Mr Maher told the Irish Examiner: “It’s still very frustrating that three homes lying idle are still not turned around and allocated to people waiting on the housing list.

“The numbers increase each month yet we see practices like this continue. It’s been flagged and highlighted, yet they still remain empty.”