Planners reject coffee and snack business at GAA Club carpark in Laois

A coffee and snack container at a Laois GAA club ground has failed in its bid to secure planning permission.  

An Bord Pleanala has upheld Laois County Council’s decision to deny retention permission for the coffee shop in a converted shipping container at Portarlington GAA grounds in McCann Park.

Owen Donegan had appealed the Council’s decision to refuse planning permission at the GAA Club carpark last August. 

Laois County Council had rejected the plans as it said the mobile coffee and food snack container contravened the local area plan. 

In his appeal to An Bord Pleanala, Mr Donegan stated that the business was similar to a coffee shop operating at Sarsfields GAA Club in Newbridge, Co Kildare. 

He stated that the container only takes up a small footprint and provides employment to seven people and a livelihood to the owner. 

An ABP Inspector said: “The development to be retained consists of a converted shipping container, described as ‘a mobile coffee and food snack container’. The container is located centrally on the north-western boundary of the car park, backs onto the road boundary and has a roped off seating area to one side. It is connected to existing mains water and sewerage supply via existing GAA clubhouse connections.”

She recommended refusing permission as: “The development to be retained is located on lands zoned Open Space and Amenity in the Portarlington Joint Local Area Plan 2018 – 2024. A small café or a retail use (convenience less than100sqm) is not permissible in the Local Area Plan zoning matrix on lands zoned Open Space and Amenity. The development to be retained would, if permitted, materially contravene the Portarlington Joint Local Area Plan 2018 – 2024 and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

The planning authority agreed with the Inspector and Laois County Council and refused the application for planning retention. 

“Having regard to the fact that a small cafe or a retail use (convenience less than100 square metres) is not permissible in the Local Area Plan zoning matrix on lands zoned Open Space and Amenity, it is considered that the development proposed to be retained would materially contravene the Portarlington Joint Local Area Plan 2018-2024, and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” ABP said in its direction.