Plans for 98 houses and creche in Laois village gets go-ahead following appeal

Plans for 98 houses and a creche in a Laois village have been given the green light after an appeal was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála.

JC Brenco Developments Ltd   had been granted planning permission to build the houses and creche along with 18 parking spaces at  Rahin, Ballylinan. 

The majority of the planned properties in the Laois development are three bedroom two story semi detached houses of which 60 are proposed at the site. 

The plans included 12 four bedroom two storey semi detached houses, 12 four bedroom  two storey semi detached  properties along with eight two bedroom single storey and seven four bedroom two storey detached houses at the Ballylinan site.  The  large development included landscaping and associated boundary development.   

The proposed estate will  include a new entrance for vehicles and pedestrians, as well as   internal access roads, paths and open communal spaces.  There is also provision for  connection to local services.

The planning application attracted a large number of submissions. It was approved by Laois County Council subject to 25 conditions in February 2024.

That planning approval was later appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála by Ballylinan Council.

READ NEXT: Your guide to this weekend's Folly Festival in Laois: music, food and family-fun await

A submission from the group during the planning process with Laois County Council objected to the plans as they believed the development would cause issues with water, wastewater and roads in the area. 

 
"The community are not opposed to development but are opposed to poor development that will add nothing to their village. There is no need to construct  98No. dwellings in one development. It will be completely out of scale and character 
with the existing village. The development needs to be consistent with the current  pattern and scale of Ballylynan. The proposal should be refused on this basis," the group stated. 

In response the applicant said: "The size, scale and mass of the proposed development is similar to that of other existing estates. Connections to the town centre will be facilitated through the development. The mass and pattern of development is typical of a rural town and is well laid out to provide an attractive residential development for future residents." 

The planning board found that subject to the conditions the development "would not seriously injure the amenities of the properties in the vicinity, would not lead to the creation of a traffic hazard or obstruction of road users, would improve permeability within the area and would not be prejudicial to public health. The proposed development would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."

Approval was given with 21 conditions attached.