By Andy Spearman
The really good news announced at yesterday’s “Pretty Vacant” tour of derelict and vacant buildings in Drogheda is that the Peter McVerry Trust housing charity has acquired and intends to refurbish several derelict houses in the Drogheda downtown area to provide up to 30 apartments.
Seven of the houses bought by the charity are in the area known as “The Alleys” which is off William Street and belongs to a Church of Ireland Trust, The two terraces of buildings originally constructed in 1712 and have lain vacant for up to 40 years.
Francis Doherty of the Peter McVerry Trust told Drogheda Life that they will be lodging planning to re-use these buildings in the next week or two.
“The seven houses we have purchased will be divided into 14 apartments and the money we paid to the trust will hopefully enable them to refurbish the rest of the houses there.”
Around the corner at Paradise Place, again off Wiliam Street, The Peter McVerry Trust has bought and are restoring three period properties with private developers and Louth County Council which will deliver a further 16 homes from these long term vacant buildings.
“We started working on derelict buildings and vacant infill sites back in 2013” Mr. Doherty said, adding that they are growing their social housing stock by over 1,200 units in the period 2021 -2025.
“I’m proud to be able to say that 85% of that stock will be delivered by re-using derelict and vacant buildings as well as derelict sites in urban centres.
“In Louth we have a range of projects underway that will see long term vacant properties being brought back into use.
“We have delivered repair and lease projects across Drogheda and in Clogherhead as well as buy and renew projects in Drogheda.
“Our aim is to lead and demonstrate how empty buildings can be re-used. We have re-used everything from pubs and hairdressers, banks to monasteries to schools and grain stores.
“A vacant property is an opportunity for more positive social outcome, be that social or affordable housing or other valuable community benefits like community centres and educational facilities.
“… we are careful to talk about the positive outcomes, not to use language that would bring negativity or damage perceptions of our towns. For us the energy has to be on the solution and the outcome and being pragmatic about how you arrive at our end goal – handing the key to a new home to someone in need.”
