Oral hearing over compulsory purchase of prominent Portlaoise building
Laois County Council is attempting to acquire the buliding which has been vacant for years
An oral hearing will take place next month in relation to Laois County Council’s bid to acquire the former Ken Black toy store building in Portlaoise.
The large building, which is located at 88 Main Street, Pepper's Lane / Lyster Lane, Portlaoise, was the location of the first Ken Black toy store.
It has been vacant for decades and Laois County Council listed the premises as a derelict building.
Laois County Council described the premises in documents as “a derelict site comprising two-storey commercial units and surrounding land situated at 88 Main Street, Lyster Lane/Pepper’s Lane, Portlaoise containing 0.0938 hectares or thereabouts. The said property and surrounding land is in a state of dereliction”.
They have applied to An Coimisiún Pleanála to acquire the building under the derelict sites act. It is hoped the move would bring the building back into use as it has a prominent location in the centre of Portlaoise.
As part of the acquisition process, Laois County Council is required to take part in an oral hearing with An Coimisiún Pleanála. That hearing is due to take place online via MS Teams on September 4 at 10am.
An Independent Inspector will chair the hearing which will consider the council’s application to acquire the building. A report and recommendation will be then made by the Independent Inspector about the proposed compulsory acquisition .