Green light to convert long derelict Laois convent into apartments

Following on the impressive completion of a social housing development of Portlaoise Convent, a second vacant Laois convent built by the Presentation religious order is finally on track to follow a similar residential property path.

Stradbally convent and the pretty little church next door in the Electric Picnic hometown, are idle and boarded up on the Main Street. Both are to become apartment buildings with a total of 18 homes.

Laois County Council has given planning approval for a private development, to Vesta Construction Ltd.

There had been several submissions made against it by nearby residents, concerned about the possible extra impact on already busy parking spaces on a busy Main Street. One came from the Director of the Gala shop across the road.

Ann Simpson asked that parking on Main Street not be impacted by residents, as it is used by her customers. She also said while the plan said the building is not on a flood plain, "this is untrue as I have witnessed flooding", and said she cannot get flood insurance as a result. She also requested the council to plan public transport for Stradbally. 

The project drawings show 19 private car parking spaces to the rear of the convent. 

The buildings are both protected structures.

The convent vacant for over three decades and was placed on the derelict sites register in about 2023. 

Laois architects NKSE Architectural Studio are involved in the project, and expressed excitement at the goahead, sharing photos showing the dilapidated interior of the convent.

"Planning permission granted for the Old Convent, Stradbally. As a project, we are excited to get this building renovated and returned to its former glory along Main St., Stradbally.

"While the building looks in good order from the street, unfortunately not so wonderful internally and to the rear of the site. Having been left derelict for so long, along with vandalism has seen the beautiful interior of this building destroyed with key features lost. Hopefully, what remains can now be preserved."

Vesta Construction plans to turn the building into 18 one bedroom apartments. The plan seeks to demolish a two storey and single storey building at the rear of the convent. 

There will be a renovation and upgrade of the existing convent building, to be sub-divided to provide 18 residential units.

There will be five 1 Bed apartments on the ground floor, three 1 Bed apartments on the 1st floor, two 1 Bed apartments on the 1st floor (+1), three 1 Bed apartments on the 2nd floor.

Also in a new building, there will be two 1 Bed apartments on the ground floor and one 1 Bed apartment on the 1st floor.

The vacant church next door will be turned into three 1 Bed Studio apartments.

Read next: Field of four in race to fill vacant Fianna Fáil councillor's seat

Slight changes were made to the plans to gain the planners' goahead. Five planned parking spaces are removed on the north and south sides of the site to improve driver sightlines. There will be six EV car charging stations, with arrangements to allow for more in the future. 

The condition of the building previously led to councillors expressing concern about the safety at the site. Back in 2022, councillors had suggested that Laois County Council buy the building for community use, in Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.  At the time the building was on sale for €550,000.