A Laois Councillor has called for the County Council take a stronger position on various housing issues in the town, including Down’s Lane, The County Hotel, and Abbeycourt.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald was speaking at the Portlaoise Municipal Districe Committee meeting this week.
Speaking about Down’s Land / Tyrells Land, Assistant Senior Engineer for Housing, Mr Trevor Hennessy said:
“A site investigation and topographical surveys are currently being carried out on site. Once these surveys are complete a detailed design for this scheme will be produced which will also include the proposed mixed tenure of the scheme.
It is expected that a draft mixed tenure site layout plan will be completed by the end of June and a meeting with the Portlaosie Cllrs will be arranged to review this draft layout.”
Cllr Fitzgerald said: “This is supposed to be an area designated for affordable housing, but I can’t see it happening any time in the future.
“It’s going on too long – it’s way, way too slow.”
“We had a major consultation with consultants 3 years ago and I’m still waiting on the final report.”
Speakin on the County Hotel, Mr Hennessy said: “Site investigation and building condition surveys are currently being carried out on site.
“Once these surveys are complete Cluid Housing can confirm their revised cost plan and detailed design. The surveys carried out so far have outlined some significant challenges in relation to the protected front façade which will be taken into account for the finalisation of the costs plan.
A section 57 planning report for the site has also been finalised and an agreement has been reached on which buildings on site can be demolished. It is expected that the revised cost plan and detailed design will be completed in Q3 2023.”
Cllr Fitzgerald said it is a disgrace that nothing has been done with the County Hotel in all the time it has been under the Council’s remit.
Cllr Fitzgerald says the Council needs to be more pro-active with important infrastructure sites. “At the moment, there is no evidence anything will happen.
There was also a call from the Councillor to to implement a CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) on 15 Abbeycourt, on the Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise.
Mr Gerry Ryan, Vacant Homes Officer said: “Laois County Council’s Vacant Homes Office has made several attempts to contact the registered owner of this property.
“The registered owner on the folio is a development company with a solicitor’s office as the contact address, whom we are advised is no longer acting for the development company.
“Having exhausted all possible ways of making contact with the owner with a view to returning this property to use, Laois County Council has now commenced the Compulsory Purchase Order process and will proceed to acquire the property in this process.”
Cllr Fitzgerald called it “great news,” saying Abbeycourt is a lovely estate and expressing her hope that the process does not take too long.
SEE ALSO – Planning permission sought for large new residential development in Laois
