Objectors succeed in halting estate planned for Laois village

Objectors have succeed in halting a large housing development in a Laois village.

An Bord PLeanala has refused permission for the planned 99 houses and a creche at Killenard. 

Matt Colgan had been granted conditional permission to build 99 detached houses, a creche and a new estate entrance at Ballycaroll and Tierhogar, Killenard, Portarlington.

Laois County Council granted planning for the development subject to 27 conditions in January 2022.  The permission was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanala. 

The original plan submitted to Laois County Council says the project would consist of 49 two-storey five bedroom houses, 28 two-storey, four bedroom houses, 9 two-storey three bedroom houses, four dormer four bedroom houses, nine single-storey, two bedroom houses.

A single storey creche/childcare centre and a new estate entrance off an existing access road on the east side of the Killenard Road L3171 was planned as was a pedestrian link to the Ballycarroll Road L7172.

The development was to require the demolition/removal of a derelict farm building to the village end of the site.

However, those plans were appealed by a number of local residents. They raised concerns about the traffic, water and sewerage implications of the proposed development. They also questioned the scale of the plans at the location. 

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An Bord Pleanala deemed the plans to be “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area” and refused permission.