Plan to demolish vacant Laois pub and build houses instead

A planning application has been lodged to demolish a historic Laois village inn, now vacant, and replace it with three new A rated houses.

The Clonaslee Inn, more recently known as AJ's is on Main Street in Clonaslee village, at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

Applicant Thomas O'Rourke is asking Laois County Council permission to completely demolish the property, together with demolition of rear extensions and outbuildings, which it describes as being "in a state of structural decline.

The project intends to deliver three private townhouses. One two-storey dwelling with three bedrooms will be built on the footprint of the original pub, with a natural slate roof and a rear garden. it will be built at the same setback distance as the existing pub. 

Two three-storey dwellings with four bedrooms each, will be built to the rear of the site, with "upper level terraces" as well as private rear gardens. The two rear houses will have the third storey within the attic level to reduce visual impact when viewed from neighbouring properties.

Access to all units will be provided via a new private driveway located to the right side of the new front house. There will be private parking behind the front house.

Architectural drawings of the proposed three houses to replace the Clonaslee property.

"The existing building on the site is a disused public house, now in a derelict condition, with extensions and sheds to the rear. The site currently detracts from the character and vitality of the streetscape, and its redevelopment presents a valuable opportunity to eliminate visual blight and reintroduce active use to this key location within Clonaslee," the applicant's architectural design statement says.

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The designers say the homes are carefully designed to "minimise direct overlooking of neighbouring gardens and windows".

The application was returned as invalid as it was missing drawings for one of the houses, but will likely be resubmitted.