The owner of a landmark Waterford building that is in danger of being lost to the city has been ordered to carry out immediate repairs. Kemberton Properties has been served notice by Waterford Corporation under the Derelict Sites Act that it must make specified improvements to the former Infirmary on John's Hill.
Concerns for the building's future grew recently when the Galway-based development company announced it was putting it back on the market. The move was greeted with dismay, given that Kemberton had only recently secured planning permission to convert the building into apartments.
Built in 1785 and designed by John Roberts, the Infirmary is one of the town's most prominent and historic buildings. It is listed as a protected structure, but since closing as a hospital in 1987 it has been severely damaged by vandals.
Kemberton, which went through a long process to secure planning permission for the redevelopment, was supported by An Taisce, which said last year it feared the building would not last another winter.
Waterford Corporation was also anxious that redevelopment work should begin soon. An executive planner, Ms Marina Murray, said the corporation "did everything we could to facilitate the developer and we're very disappointed that the work has not gone ahead".
Kemberton was initially granted planning permission last September for 57 apartments and 20 town houses at the rear of the site, after a larger-scale design had been rejected by An Bord Pleanala.
In December, however, the company submitted a new application with a revised design, consisting of 37 apartments and 26 town houses. Permission was granted in April and it was hoped work would begin immediately.
Now, with the building continuing to deteriorate and no sign of the promised redevelopment, the corporation has apparently decided to get tough. It served notice last month on the company under Section 11 of the Derelict Sites Act, ordering it to replace all broken glass in the windows and reinstate window frames where removed.
The company was also told to remove all vegetation and to "paint the entire building in accordance with the existing colour scheme".
It was also told to restore and reinstate the existing entrance gate and adjoining railings.
In a reply, Kemberton said it was in negotiations with a builder about a joint venture for the site. It hoped to have these concluded within four to six weeks. It asked that the notice served by the corporation be deferred for six weeks.
The corporation refused the request in a letter sent to Kemberton last Thursday. Given the prominence and importance of the Infirmary and its condition, it was not prepared to vary the terms of the order.
As required by the Act, the notice comes into effect on August 16th, two weeks after the corporation's letter, and the company will then have six weeks to comply.
A spokesman for Kemberton was uncontactable for comment yesterday.
