Laois school appeals planning conditions seen as threat to viability

An Bord Pleanala is due to make a decision on Kolbe Special School in mid July. 

The School’s Board of Management appealed Laois County Council’s planning approval arguing that conditions attached would entail “additional cost”  and threaten the viability of the site for a special school.

Planning for the single storey school, which consists of eight classrooms, a GP Hall, specialist education species, administration areas, circulation, parking spaces and pedestrian and road access was approved with conditions on February 15.

It’s nearly 40 years since Kolbe moved into its existing location on the Block Road at Beladd. The school, which caters for children with complex needs and levels of disability, has only one permanent classroom. It has been relying on prefabs, some of which are in poor condition and not totally sound or weather proofed. 

Laois County Council’s decision to grant planning permission was warmly received last month. However, the Board of Management took issue with some of the conditions attached to the planning and lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala.

They stated that the “proposed alignments of the road  is not in accordance with the outline envisaged.”

They argued that the “the presence of the road, in both proposed locations, prejudices the creation of calm, safe and secure environment as envisaged by the applicant.” 

“Accordingly, conditions I(B) and 1(A), present an unacceptable reduction in amenity for the proposed school, entail additional cost to the project and pose a threat to the viability of the site for a special school of this nature.”