At Kilkenny City Municipal District’s monthly meeting, Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin (Lab) tabled a motion calling for an audit of all vacant ‘over the shop’ units in the city centre’s core area.
The motion, in full, reads as follows: “In light of the ongoing housing crisis and of recent government initiatives on town centre living and regeneration, Kilkenny City Municipal District calls for the following: An audit of all vacant units ‘over the shop’ in the city centre core. Consideration of a ‘one stop shop’ approach to advise owners on the possibilities of conversion of these units to badly needed housing accommodation, including energy retrofits, disability access modifications, fire certification etc.
“The putting in place of an extensive publicity campaign to encourage such works, in conjunction with Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce, other local business organisations, the South East Energy Association, Kilkenny City Taskforce and other appropriate bodies” and “Consideration of strengthening Kilkenny City and County Development Plan to enable this council to strongly support or enforce the necessity for such development”.
Cllr Ó hArgáin explained the rationale behind his motion to KCLR News.
