New planning approved for derelict AIB in Laois

A new planning application has been approved for the old AIB bank in Portarlington. 

The application by Monaghan based Drumgoan Developments Ltd sought to alter a previous plan at  the Old AIB Banking Hall, Main Street, Portarlington. 

Laois County Council approved the planning application subject to one condition.

Drumgoan Developments Ltd applied to Laois County Council for permission at the site last December.

The former bank was placed on the derelict sites register last year. The site has been widely discussed at Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District meetings with councillors expressing concern about the condition of the premises.  

In the latest planning application the developers asked to “alter previous permission Planning Reference 19/319; the change entails the Change of Use from a vacant AIB Bank to one nr., 2-bedroom apartment in the Banking Hall from the previously granted one nr., 1-bedroom apartment at Main Street, Portarlington. The development works include general restoration and conservation works. The alteration to permission is within the site of a protected structure RPS 128_B.”

The plan is an amendment of a previous granted planning application to develop the former AIB site for use as housing.  The previous application was lodged with Laois County Council back in June 2019. It was approved when permission was granted to develop the entire former bank site.   

That proposal was for the change of use of the bank and adjacent house for use as apartments. The proposal included plans for the construction of a  new three storey apartment block. 

Disused Laois AIB building placed on derelict sites register

It requested a “change use of a vacant AIB bank and the adjacent vacant House (former Rectory/Apartments) to apartments, comprised of one nr., 1 bedroom apartment in the banking hall, two nr. 2 bedroom apartments, two nr. 1 bedroom apartment and two nr. studio apartments in the house and the construction of a new three storey apartment block containing three nr. 2 bedroom apartments and associated site works.”

“The development works will include the demolition of a single storey rear extension and two-storey return, the reconstruction of a collapsed section to the rear of the house, general restoration and conservation works to the bank and house. The works are within the site of two protected structures RPS 128_A and RPS 128_B.”