Laois planners give green light for big new Abbeyleix housing estate

A new housing estate is to be constructed in the Laois heritage town of Abbeyleix, with Phase 1 granted planning approval, despite multiple objections by neighbours.

Laois County Council has approved Brook Advantage to develop Phase One of a proposed three phased housing development at Rathmoyle, (townland) between the Ballyroan Road and N77 Portlaoise road, in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois.

Phase one will consist of 28 houses including 1 four bed detached, 20 four bed Semi-detached, and 7 Three-bed Terrace dwellings, in two blocks. 

Phase two will include a creche site. There are planned to be 84 houses in total if all three phases are built.

It will also have an ESB kiosk, and all associated site development works including footpaths, parking, fencing, drainage, and landscape /amenity.

Construction access had been sought from the N77 to the site with a temporary haul route, but the council got agreement from the applicant to change this to another haul route from the south of the site.

Other changes were also made after the council requested Further Information, such as the addition of pedestrian crossings, design changes, extra lighting and traffic safety and construction plans.

Access to the proposed development will be via The Fairways housing estate next door which has 94 houses. However an entrance from the Ballyroan road is planned for future phases.

There had been 39 submissions made on the application, many by neighbours objecting to it.

The Fairways residents association had lodged an objection to having access through their estate, saying that the entrance was "at full capacity" as it was, describing it as "hazardous" particularly in icy conditions. They said they feared the "potential routing of traffic from the N77 through the Fairways to the Ballyroan road".

Garrett Kelly chairperson said they "reserved the right to raise our concerns at a higher level, should we feel the above observations are not addressed to our satisfaction".

Cllr John Joe Fennelly and Cllr Barry Walsh had made a joint submission in support of the plan, but asking for the residents' views to be considered.

In response, the applicant's architect said "We note the third-party submissions and the running theme for the most part is
concerns over additional traffic through their existing estate from the residences.

"The applicant has been working with the owners of the adjoining land to reach an alternative solution to this issue. The applicant, is actively working with parties on adjoining lands to get an alternative site access that would contribute to a master plan for the area. A connection point to this alternative access route has been identified in the updated site layouts.

"Meetings have been held with local officials, Laois County Council and a presentation to Transport Infrastructure Ireland to design an alternative access point. The applicant will continue to work on solutions with all stakeholders to bring forward a viable masterplan for the successful development of the zoned lands.
We also note the submissions on the current access point to The Fairways. The local authority has carried out recent upgrade works at this location."

The land is zoned for Residential-2 in the Laois County Development Plan.  It was the subject of a previous planning application for 51 houses which was rejected over concerns for sewerage and public spaces.

The approval was granted on January 22.