Progress being made on construction of business park on long vacant site in Laois

The construction of the Canal Road Business Park on the former Avon factory site in Portarlington is "progressing very well", according to a recent update from Laois County Council on the project.

The Avon factory site once employed up to 1,200 people in Portarlington before closing in 2000. The cosmetics and jewellery factory was later demolished following a fire in the vacant building in 2014.

The site laid dormant for over 25 years before Laois County Council purchased 6 acres of the land last year for €500,000. Four sites are being created on the land which have all been sold to companies.

Local hardware business Fletchers purchased one of the sites along with a Derry based construction company, P McVey Building Systems, who bought two of the sites. The Dublin based company Priority Construction snapped up the last site in December 2025.

Laois County Council was granted €1 million in Just Transition funding to install roads and services to create the sites. The aim of the project was to attract businesses and provide more jobs in Portarlington. 

In an update from the council on the project, they said: "Works are progressing very well with the construction of the Canal Road Business Park. Kerbing installed, blacktop (with the exception of wearing course) has been installed, footpaths partially complete (delayed by recent poor weather).

Map of the four Laois County Council serviced business sites in Canal Road Business Park, Portarlington.

"Construction of the new boundary wall for the Business Park has commenced. The majority of civil works for services have been completed, connection awaited from ESB & UÉ. All four serviced sites at the location have been sold."

Councillor Aidan Mullins has welcomed the progression of the project, saying that on completion it "should be of great economic benefit to the town."

The Independent councillor added: "I'm hopeful that Laois County Council will also acquire the remainder of the site once it has been given the all clear by the EPA."

Speaking at the meeting of Laois County Council on Monday, February 23, Director of Services Simon Walton told Cllr Mullins that the council does have the option of purchasing some adjoining lands but the costs of servicing those lands may be an issue.

At the meeting, Cllr Vivienne Phelan raised the issue of public lighting near the site which is located across the road from St Patrick's Boys NS and next to Lidl and Odlums flour mill.

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Cllr Phelan said she has been asked by residents in the area whether additional public lighting will be provided on the road considering the expected increase in traffic in the area and the existing issues with a lack of lighting there.

Walton said that public lighting issues near the Canal Road Business Park will be examined in due course. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme