Fresh plans for Landmark Laois building
A new planning application has been lodged at a landmark premises in Abbeyleix.
The application at Abbeygate, Market Square, Abbeyleix seeks to vary a previously approved application to turn the Folkhouse Pub into two shops and a cafe on the ground floor and create 13 office units on the first floor.
Those plans included the demolition of the front lobby to the bar and the installation of new shop fronts together with conservation works to the protected structure. It also included an extension at the rear with 69 car parking spaces and a part-licensed supermarket of 940 sqm floor area.
That application was approved subject to 24 conditions in November 2015.
The latest planning application seeks to vary those plans by changing the office space on the first floor into three apartments. It also proposes turning a ground floor unit into a two-storey residential property.
“The variations are for phas 2 to include (A) change of use from office space to 3 no. apartments on the 1st floor, (B) changing unit on ground floor to a two storey residential unit and to include new windows and doors and extension to same including raising existing roof, (C) to raise the roof and walls to the rear of main roof to form a flat rood and (D) to form private amenity spaces to the three 1st floor apartments and all associated and necessary works,” the applications states.
The application to vary the previously approved plans was lodged on February 24 and a decision is expected by April 20.
There was one submission in relation to the latest plans. It was made by Sadie and Pat Phelan who farm beside the proposed development.
They state that while they have a three strand barbed wire fence around the boundary with the proposed development, they want the developer to erect a seven foot wall or fence along the boundary. The couple say this is necessary to “protect our land from trespassing” from the site.
Laois County Council is expected to make a decision on the proposed development on April 20.