Cork County Council has applied to compulsorily purchase 131–132 Bank Place on Thomas Davis Street in Mallow, a prominent example of ongoing dereliction within the town centre and part of a wider national effort to bring vacant properties back into productive use.
The property was entered onto the Derelict Sites Register in October 2023 and is valued at approximately €100,000 by the council. While limited additional public detail is currently available regarding its structural condition or intended redevelopment, the application now forms part of a formal Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process.
The final decision rests with An Coimisiún Pleanála, which is expected to rule on the case by 22 September.
The Mallow case reflects a broader pattern of increasing intervention by local authorities across Ireland. Boarded-up houses and deteriorating buildings remain a common feature in many towns and cities, with dereliction continuing to be closely linked to the national housing shortage. Bringing vacant and abandoned properties back into use has become a key policy tool in addressing social housing demand and increasing overall housing supply.
Under derelict sites legislation introduced in 1990, each local authority maintains a Derelict Sites Register and can impose an annual levy of 7% of a property’s market value until it is deemed no longer derelict. In parallel, councils can use powers under the Housing Act to acquire vacant homes through Compulsory Purchase Orders.
Where objections arise, cases are escalated to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which assesses submissions from both local authorities and property owners before issuing a determination.
Recent figures highlight a notable increase in activity nationwide. In April 2025 alone, six councils submitted applications to compulsorily purchase 12 properties through An Coimisiún Pleanála. Across 2025 and early 2026, monthly activity has remained steady, reflecting sustained local authority focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction.
While these applications represent only part of overall acquisitions, councils also complete CPOs directly without escalation to the commission, further contributing to the return of properties to active use.
At a national level, local authorities acquired 99 properties through Compulsory Purchase Orders last year, illustrating the growing use of statutory powers to address long-term vacancy. Government policy continues to prioritise the regeneration of derelict sites as a means of increasing housing supply, improving town centre vitality, and reducing the economic and visual impact of abandoned buildings.
The proposed acquisition in Mallow therefore represents both a local issue and a wider national trend: increasing use of compulsory acquisition powers to tackle dereliction, unlock underutilised housing stock, and respond to Ireland’s ongoing housing pressures.