Major plans for former Portlaoise Church property in heart of Laois town include drive-thru restaurant

A well-known Laois builder has restarted the planning process to develop a landmark site in the heat of Portlaoise nearly a year after submitting proposals to Laois County Council to carry out the works.

In March 2023 Graham Developments Limited put County Hall on notice that it would be applying for planning permission for the extensive redevelopment of the town centre site which borders the Dublin and Ridge Roads at Millview. The project was earmarked for land the was formerly owned by the Presentation Sisters and Portlaoise Parish. 

Part of the property borders the historic Port Leix House which is undergoing an extensive renovation by Graham's. Another section is located beside the site of the former Parish church and Presentation Convent and schools which are now also being redeveloped for €27 million. 

Grahams told the council's planners in 2023 that they wanted to build one retail building containing two large retail units on the land with a separate enclosed service area and one restaurant with drive-thru facility.

In a notice to the council, the builders say the proposed development will include the demolition of two residential bungalows and garden walls.  The builders also wanted to partially knock the existing boundary wall along Ridge Road to form a new pedestrian access/plaza to the development. 

Grahams said the project would include the provision of a new access road to the northeast of the development off the Ridge Road. A car park with 90 car parking spaces was also planned.

However, the planning process was not pursued after the initial paperwork submitted was found to be incomplete. Now, just over 12 months later, Grahams have restarted the application process and informed Laois County Council that it will be submitting a new planning application albeit virtually the same details. More below picture.

As outlined previously, the proposal will also facilitate an area required for the future construction of the Triogue Blueway Phase 2 by the Council.  

The Parish and Presentation lands and buildings were put on the market in 2016 with an expectation of selling for €2.5 million. The property was put on sale after the opening of the Holy Family Schools which saw the Sacred Heart and Scoil Mhuire schools merge and move to a new home.

The original eight acres took in property that bordered Dublin, Ridge Roads, Millview and Church Avenue. It included the Parochial house and Presentation Convent, Sacred Heart and Scoil Mhuire schools, greenfield areas and the site of the demolished Portlaoise Parish church.  The Presentation Convent owned 60% of the original property with the remainder in the Parish's hands. More below picture.

The sale plan had changed by 2018 when the Council entered the equation with a view to developing the property along Church Avenue. Sometime after that, Grahams are understood to have reached a deal for the remainder.

Much of the Presentation Sisters' property grew increasingly unused over the years. Much of the site which Grahams wants to redevelop was used by Scoil Chríost Rí secondary school up to 2010 but has remained vacant since.  

The latest project will be carried out not far from an extensive redevelopment of Church land formerly owned by the Christian Brothers on Towerhill where social housing and a car park were completed with more work planned.