New homes planned on 'bane of our lives' Portlaoise vacant site
A creche planned during the days of the celtic tiger in a Portlaoise estate is finally to be swapped with much needed housing.
The undeveloped site for a creche at Clonrooske Abbey has been "the bane of our lives" says Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley who lives in the estate.
She is welcoming the news that Kingscroft Developments are seeking planning permission from Laois County Council to ditch the creche plan and replace it with three terraced houses.
The developer also seeks permission for two new detached houses in the estate, which Cllr Dwane Stanley understands will be on another vacant site across the road from the creche site, both fronting the entrance to the estate.
"I welcome it. I am absolutely delighted and I'm sure the other residents will be as well. It's been the bane of our lives at the moment. I could name several estates in Portlaoise where this happened, sites were left unfinished," she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
"I am in it 15 years and this vacant site is there when you drive in on the left, on one side I would say it is derelict. I understand it has been up for sale in the past. I had to get the council to get onto the owner on several occasions to fix fencing with children getting in. The residents who live beside it are completely affected by it. They would have spent €250,000 to purchase their houses.
"I've looked consistantly for pressure to be put on owners. We're going now from building creches everywhere to building nursing homes for the elderly," she said.
The planning application was lodged on August 17, to construct three terraced houses replacing the as granted creche Reg. Ref No. 05/270, 05/912,17/222, and two detached houses at Clonroosk Abbey, Clonroosk Link Road, Portlaoise on 0.206 hectares.
The applicant also seeks permission to develop ten car parking spaces, boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, private open spaces, services, and all other associated site development works above and below ground level.
They say that vehicular and pedestrian access to each dwelling will be via individual entrances from the Clonroosk Abbey internal road and footpath network, currently being completed under Permitted Development Laois County Council Plan Reg. Ref No 05/912.
A decision is due by October 11 2023.