27 Ennis estates incomplete

THE true extent of unfinished estates in the county capital has been revealed with 27 developments remaining incomplete in Ennis and almost half of these not progressing, according to information released by Ennis Town Council.

A total of 11 developments have been taken in charge by the council since 2010, with a full-time team of council staff dedicated to prioritising local-authority services towards unfinished estates.

A report presented at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council has shown that of the 27 unfinished estates in the Ennis urban area, there are 13 developments which are not progressing, with little or no activity on site. There are three developments with bonds held by IRBC and Ulster Bank and/or referred to the council’s legal team. Eleven of the developments are progressing in conjunction with the developer or bond holder. According to the council, eight of these are proceeding satisfactorily and are on target for taking in charge by either the council or management company in the immediate future.

Ennis’ town clerk Leonard Cleary outlined that there has been “significant progress” in the taking in charge of estates in recent years but he added, “We need developers who are still trading to engage and we need the pace to improve”. He stated that for developers still in a position to trade not to fulfil their responsibilities to complete their estate is “unacceptable”.

He warned that where there isn’t co-operation from developers, legal channels will be pursued. “The pursuit of some undo-operative developers through legal channels is required in several situations. The council is cognisant of the public purse when pursuing a legal course of action in an unfinished estate. The view from operational experience is that if appropriate, the best first action of the council to achieve a satisfactory resolution for residents and citizens of Ennis is with the active assistance and co-operation of the developer or those now responsible for the development in the absence of a developer fulfilling his/her responsibilities.”
He commented that when this approach does not receive the required response, “The council has no hesitation in discharging its regulatory role through pursuing court proceedings”.

Mr Cleary stated, “The issues relating to unfinished estates are absorbing significant local management time”.  He acknowledged the “frustration and disappointment” of home and property owners.

The report highlighted the council’s “serious concerns” that the IBRC (former Anglo Irish Bank) bonds valued at €1.5 million for Ennis are unsecured following the bank’s dissolution in February.

“This item has been discussed in Dáil Éireann but no confirmation on the securing of bonds has been addressed to the Oireachtas in replies. This is a national problem impacting on various local authorities. Ennis Town Council could not afford the cost of completing these estates, which are the responsibility of the developer and the financial institutions, or their successor, that hold the bond commitments,” he stated.