Vacant house site in Portlaoise estate could get taxed
The owner of a site left unbuilt for decades in a Portlaoise housing estate could get hit with a new tax.
The new Residential Zoned Tax will be charged from 2024 on land zoned for housing but never developed.
The objective of the tax is to activate land that is serviced and zoned for residential use or mixed use, including residential use, in order to increase housing supply and to ensure regeneration of vacant and idle lands in urban locations.
Laois County Council has prepared a map of every town and village in Laois, so that the Revenue can identify where tax is liable and decide to take action.
It includes any small undeveloped site in housing estates, and Woodgrove Lawns in Portlaoise has one of them.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley wants action on the single house site, tabling a motion to the October meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District to ask for an update on the plans for the site.
"Woodgrove must be built surely over 25 years. It has been left unfinished and then there was a bond only in one half of it. I acknowledge the work that the council has done.
"Here's the problem. There is a vacant site there since the estate was built. I believe if it is not being used by the builder, the council should move to do something with them. It seems to be going on forever. There is a similar problem with the pumping station. Money was allocated years ago to bring it up to spec. We need concrete information on this site," she said.
In reply Laois County Council planner David O'Hara said the site has been identified by them as "within scope" of the provisions of the Residential Zoned Land Tax.
"The council will also inspect the lands to determine if any development opportunities exist from a housing perspective," he said.