Decades old Laois filling station seeking planning permission for first time

A Laois filling station is seeking planning approval for the first time, despite being "several decades" in business.

Certa Ireland Ltd is applying to Laois County Council for retention permission for a depot in Portlaoise.

They confirm in their application that "no known planning files were found" in the council's registrar and so they are now seeking permission.

The outlet is a fuel storage and sales business, on Tea Lane in Portlaoise, sited between Kea Lew Business Park and Irish Rail's  depot.

Certa only bought it within the past two years and it has had several owners throughout the decades. 

Certa seeks retention permission for fuel sales in the existing office /storage structure, for various freestanding and wall mounted signage elements, an above ground plastic HVO tank and dispenser, and lubricant/fuel forecourt displays.

They say that the 0.11 hectare corner site is mainly related to fuel storage and sales "which were in operation for considerable period of time by the previous landowner(s)".

"According to the council’s planning register, no known planning files were found. Based on our experience of similar Certa sites around Ireland, this fuel depot has been in use for several decades.

"We... assume the original fuel storage structures predate the Planning and Development Acts 1964. To remove any ambiguity around the longstanding fuel sales, retention is primarily sought for this use.

"No new material alterations or changes of use are proposed. The subject site also has a valid licence for storage, supply, and sale of fuel as required under the Dangerous Substances Act."

The applicant's planning report argues that the "principle of the existing development is established, the "nature and scale of the development is minor", and "the existing fuel depot predates much of the surrounding uses and has had no known negative impacts to date".

"The existing fuel sales has operated alongside the fuel storage use for several decades and no increase in filling points or expansion of public services are proposed. As a result of previous, no additional noise, traffic, waste, or odour impacts will arise from the development," they say.

Certa say that their new signs and paintwork "improved the existing visual character of the subject lands".

"The established fuel sales use is an important service for local residents, businesses, and visitors to adjacent retail, commercial, and amenities," the company also says.

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Certa Ireland Limited, is an Irish fuel operator that is part of DCC Plc, a leading international sales, marketing and support
services group who operate almost 1,000 fuel forecourts across Europe in the UK, France, Sweden, Denmark & Norway.

The application was submitted on October 13 but sent back by Laois County Council planners labelled "incomplete". It is likely to be resubmitted again.