Laois council forcibly buying derelict property in Portarlington
'We have two further CPO's under consideration' -Laois County Council
Laois County Council is gearing up on its powers to forcibly buy derelict properties using Compulsory Purchase Orders.
The fifth one to be announced for 2025 is a prominant site in Cooltederry, Portarlington, at the junction to Foxcroft Street.
A field and derelict site is on the Laois Derelict Sites List accruing fines. It measures 0.1785 hectares, or over a quarter acre.
It is the second CPO underway for a derelict property in the same area in 2025.
The purchase of a 0.5 hectare site also in Cooltederry has hit an obstacle.
Two brothers are claiming squatters rights for that property. Laois County Council has now applied to An Coimisiún Pleanála for permission to go ahead with the sale.
Three further Laois properties are currently being bought by CPO, including a derelict bungalow at 55 Broomville Portlaoise.
The Laois County Council CEO Michael Rainey says two further properties are under consideration.
It follows up on his promise for a "much higher" number of CPOs in 2025, after six were carried out in 2024.
The public consultation for the Foxcroft site is on view on consult.laois.ie