Final planning decision made on Midlands Hospice to serve Laois

The long-awaited Midlands Regional Hospice is finally set to proceed after An Coimisiún Pleanala, after an appeal against the grant of planning permission by Offaly County Council was withdrawn.

The decision follows a series of appeals and objections which have delayed the €24 million construction of the much-needed palliative care unit that has been in the pipeline for decades to serve Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

The latest planning objection was issued by the owner of Condron Concrete, John Condron, to An Coimisiún Pleanála in January 2026.

The appeal was originally submitted after Offaly County Council passed a motion for a material contravention of the Offaly County Development Plan during their December monthly meeting. All 19 councillors voted to grant permission for the 20-bed palliative care facility on a site at Arden Lane.

Condron Concrete’s appeal was because there was a lack of boundary separation between their business and the proposed hospice.

An Coimisiún Pleanála was due to give its verdict on the appeal by Tuesday, June 2, following months of deliberation. However, Mr Condron withdrew his appeal before the planning body's decision due to an agreement reached with the HSE regarding the barrier.

In response, the HSE submitted plans to Offaly County Council on May 7 for the erection of a three-metre-tall sound barrier around the western and northern boundaries of the palliative care unit.

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Following this resolution, An Coimisiún Pleanala have now granted planning permission for the hospice subject to certain conditions being met.

The planning authority offered more context to their decision on the matter through the inspector’s report based around a site inspection at Arden Lane which occurred on April 16.

This reads: “The proposal is of regional importance and thus the site, subject to fulfilling other criteria, should be considered for a hospice.”

“The site is unusual in that it provides natural calm whilst also being within easy reach of services, adding that a similar site would be very difficult to locate and, on this basis, considers a material contravention may be appropriate.”

The report also concluded: “The proposal will not impact on adjacent industrial activities, nor would the development of adjacent lands to the south of Arden Lane, currently zoned ‘business and technology park’ impact on quality of care in the hospice.”

“A low-density urban area will provide a suitable location for a new Regional Hospice which will deliver both in-patient and outpatient palliative care to patients from the Midlands region.”

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The Midlands is the only region in Ireland that does not have an inpatient facility. After years of waiting, then Taoiseach Michéal Martin announced €20 million in capital funding for a new specialist palliative care inpatient unit in 2022. Millions will be contributed by hospice groups in the Midlands.

This announcement was followed by an early setback when a designated site beside the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore was deemed unsuitable. This led to two alternative sites being considered, Arden View and the Wellwood Campus located off the Tullamore bypass.

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly announced in September 2024 that the Arden Lane site was the preferred location. This was not universally welcomed with some believing the Wellwood property was more suited.

However, the HSE has proceeded with the Arden View site, which has the backing of Laois Hospice.