Goahead for holiday lets in old Laois factory halted by appeal

A green light to turn a disused vitamins factory in Laois into holiday apartments, has been challenged.

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against the project to turn the disused factory office block in Abbeyleix to self-catering guest accommodation and short term let accommodation to include 4 units.

The plan by Abbeyleix based applicant and owner, O'Maonlaoi De Faoite Ltd had been approved by Laois County Council in early July.

The old Stone Arch factory beside the Laois town's former train station on the Ballacolla Road, is on a narrow site that leads to the N77 Durrow road, across from the restored Abbeyleix Bog and Abbeyleix Manor Hotel.

The applicant had said it would be renovated "with a focus on heritage and nature" bringing visitors to the Laois town. The Site Area is 0.2873ha. The factory closed in January 2002, having at one point been the biggest employer in Abbeyleix. 

The appeal has been lodged by AJ Duncan from Portlaoise.

They had lodged a submission to the planning application, making eight points including concerns for potential chemical pollution. They suggested that it was a residential development not a holiday business and so contravened zoning.

They also said there was no flood assessment or plan for surface water which they said could affect the River Nore, a Special Area of Conservation.

Read also: Laois business rolls up sleeves to volunteer with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns

Laois County Council had approved the plan after seeking further information, including an environmental report to show that the site had been cleared of contamination.