Councillor asks how Laois estate got planning
A councillor who was seeking to have a decade old unfinished estate taken in charge questioned how permission was granted to build a second phase.
Cllr Aidan Mullins tabled a motion asking: “That Laois County Council give an update on the taking in charge of Lansdowne Estate in Portarlington.”
In a written response, Laois Planning Department’s Evelyn Brownrigg stated that: “The Developer (Kingscroft Developments) has not made an application to have the Lansdowne Estate taken in charge. It should also be noted that there is a live permission on the site.”
Describing it as “a very frustrating situation,” Cllr Mullins told the meeting that the estate was built 10 or 15 years ago at the height of the boom and went unfinished.
“I don’t understand how the original phase even got planning permission,” said Cllr Mullins.
He told the meeting that he had intended to go around with a petition in an effort to have phase one completed and taken in charge only to then learn construction of phase two had begun and a planning application had been lodged for the third phase.
“I just think that the planning office should be more proactive,” said Cllr Mullins.
“It is 10 or 15 years. It is just not good enough,” said Cllr Mullins.
Cllr Aisling Moran seconded the motion and said something needed to be done. She asked how many times do councillors need to call for action in relation to the estate.
“The planning office needs to be more proactive,” she said, echoing Cllr Mullin’s earlier comments.
The issue was discussed at the last monthly meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.