Historic Laois building could be demolished despite previous plans to save it
Safety concerns have prompted the revision of previously approved plans for Ballydavis House
A planning application has been submitted to demolish a historic Laois building, despite plans last year to redevelop the site.
Ballydavis House in The Heath has been vacant for many years and has been the subject of numerous planning proposals in recent times.
The two-storey stone building served the community of The Heath for many years as a shop and pub. It has since been placed on Laois County Council's derelict site lists.
Despite planning permission being granted to multiple proposals relating to Ballydavis House in recent years, no work has progressed on the site.
Last year, Laois County Council granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the former commercial building for residential use.
Donnagh Treacy and Ellen O'Neill had submitted the application which included the demolition of the sides and rear of the building, the construction of an extension, as well as other works.
This application was thought to be saving the historic building from demolition after a planning application was previously lodged in 2021 by a couple seeking to build a house beside it.
That application was granted permission for the construction of the house, but permission was refused to demolish Ballydavis House.
Now a year later, Mr Treacy and Ms O'Neill have sought to modify their plans which were granted permission by Laois County Council.
The revised plans now look to demolish the entire structure of Ballydavis House due to safety concerns.
The documents submitted alongside the application stated: "Under the previous application, permission was granted to knock both extension to the sides and the extension to the rear maintaining the original Ballydavis House.
"The applicant has met and spoken to a number of builders and their assessments regarding the safety of this structure and the liability of it falling have greatly increased as the first floor and the roof have collapsed pushing out the external walls to the extent that these are structurally unsound."
Mr Treacy and Ms O'Neill are seeking permission to demolish all of the building and are proposing to rebuild on the exact footprint of the house, maintaining the front elevation in stone as per the original.
The front elevation will match that of the existing Ballydavis House and all other aspects of the previous planning application will remain barring the minor alterations to the proposed internal stairs layout and elevation.
Laois County Council are due to make their decision on the updated application by June 18, 2026.
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