Review residential exemption to protect commercial entity of town centres – Mayo councillor

AN east Mayo councillor has called time on further conversions of commercial properties to residential use.

Ballyhaunis is at a crossroads, says Councillor Alma Gallagher, and rural regeneration policies need to be re-evaluated.

There is a need to conserve the commercial entity of the town and they can't have over-development from commercial to residential.

There is little retail space available and what is there is expensive, she told a municipal district meeting.

In addressing housing, the council, she said, needs to move on with phase two of the Abbeyquarter development, which would deliver 25 new homes.

Councillor Gallagher said residential development is not the key to revitalising our towns.

She made the point that the exemption allowing conversion from commercial to residential was due to expire this year, and if these planning applications are coming into the council she wanted the director to talk with councillors and have a conversation.

Speaking on local developments at the Bank of Ireland and Dillon's corner, she asked for more engagement with local residents. They are having a negative impact on the summer festival, with businesses impacted through lack of parking spaces.

“We need to preserve and protect the commercial sector of our town,” she said.

The post office has been purchased by a private individual, she continued, asking the council to be mindful of first floor development and first floor residential, but to protect the commercial entity of the town.

From here on, she would not be supporting any more retrofitting or conversion of commercial properties to residential in Ballyhaunis.

Councillor Gerry Murray said with the commercial base hollowed out, so too was the council's rates base.

It was important to revitalise and retain the commercial core and he cited his own town, Charlestown, where people were looking for units but they are not available.

This issue was raised under the vacant homes grant and he suggested tweaks where following a refurbishment, rental income in the commercial space would be tax-free, along with a tiered rates system to incentivise people.

He suggested they write to the relevant ministers about amending the legislation to incentivise people to leave commercial units, subject to rental income being tax-free.

Councillor Damien Ryan agreed that one size doesn't fit all and when you withdraw commercial space, it has unintended consequences. There had to be a balance.

Director of services Tom Gilligan said residential development is bringing derelict and vacant properties back into use, supporting schools and businesses and strengthening community life and services, with long-term social and economic growth.

Councillor Gallagher said while she accepted this in smaller villages, services in Ballyhaunis are over-burdened, with the third fastest population growth of the county. The council needed to start building houses, not transforming any more commercial properties.

We need the ground floor for commercial entity, she said.

Councillor Gallagher proposed a review of Act 10.6 Exemption from Commercial to Residential, expressing concerns about the decimation of town centres as external commercial investors buy up local commercial properties, converting them to residential units and stifling opportunities for enterprise start-ups.

“Relying predominantly on the conversion of commercial properties to residential developments as a standalone town renewal initiative does not guarantee economic growth,” she stated. "An influx of new residents does not necessarily lead to job creation or support for sustainable local businesses, especially when our commercial centres are undermined.’’

She cautioned: “We cannot excessively rely on private investors who prioritise short-term profits at the expense of the community.”