‘Substantial work’ carried to rejuvenate ghost estate in Limerick town
The Ballywilliam Estate in Rathkeale has been the subject of regeneration efforts for a number of years
FRESH concerns have been raised over the future of the long-derelict Ballywilliam Estate in Rathkeale, with councillors expressing frustration at the lack of progress on the site.
An update on the estate was provided to members of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District at their June meeting.
The Ballywilliam Estate has been the subject of regeneration efforts for a number of years.
In 2020, Limerick City and County Council published compulsory purchase order notices relating to dozens of properties in the unfinished and unoccupied estate as part of wider efforts to tackle dereliction in Rathkeale.
In a written update, Jayne Leahy, head of property management with the local authority said the estate was vested by the local authority under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and remains a particularly complex case due to the involvement of 33 individual property owners.
She said substantial work has been carried out since the site was vested, including property and services surveys, the treatment of Japanese Knotweed and measures to prevent unauthorised access.
Ms Leahy also confirmed that all parties have agreed to proceed through a mediation process rather than arbitration. “It is expected that this will bring the matter to a conclusion in a more timely manner,” she said.
She added that, as the matter remains part of a live legal process, specific details of the case cannot be discussed and works cannot commence until a resolution has been reached.
Cllr Adam Teskey said he was disappointed by the response.
Describing it as “not worth being written on kitten soft paper”, he said the matter remained unresolved despite years of discussion.
He said the delay is not acceptable and that it is “crazy” that they are still awaiting a resolution.
He called on representatives from the council's property management section and senior officials to “come out to Adare-Rathkeale to find out what’s going on here”.