Planning permission is being sought to demolish two derelict houses at Railway View in the village of Knocklong and to demolish two commercial units. The intention is to replace the buildings with two semi-detached buildings, and two apartments.
As per the planning documentation, the land is currently in the ownership of Limerick City and County Council, acquired through a compulsory purchase order; the council have indicated their consent to the planning application, as the current landowners. The local council representatives had voted to sell the the buildings last November for €60,000.
A structural assessment of the two units that comprise the former O’Byrne’s shop, described their condition as ‘dangerous’, with the external fabric in a serious state of dilapidation, and of both it was said ‘it is probably not economical to repair the building’.
The building(s) that comprise the former O’Bryne’s shop are on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, but not on the current Record of Protected Structures. A pre-planning meeting was attended by Niall Collins TD, amongst others, and a decision on the planning sought, is due in September.
