Glenveagh Homes 'committed' to planning conditions at Laois site for 195 homes

Glenveagh Homes says it is committed to honouring planning conditions at the site of 195 planned new houses and a creche in Laois. 

Laois County Council issued a warning letter to Glenveagh Homes amid claims that planning conditions had been breached at the Portlaoise site. 

Fine Gael Cllr Thomasina Connell said she was contacted by local residents who said diggers and machinery had arrived on site “out of the blue” on April 17.  

The Large-Scale Residential Development was granted permission on March 24 by An Bord Pleanala, subject to certain conditions which were to be agreed with planners in Laois County Council.

Cllr Connell said “while residential development is to be very much welcomed for our growing town, it should not significantly impede or discommode local residents. I was recently contacted by residents from the adjacent housing estates of Rath Gailine, Fielbrook and those on the Dublin Road who were taken by surprise when diggers and construction vehicles turned up out of the blue on the morning of the 17th April.”

One of the conditions of the permission granted by An Bord Pleanala were that the developer was to file a Construction Traffic Management Plan with Laois County Council’s Planning Department to reach agreement with regard to accessing the site which is situated to the rear of the Killeshin Hotel, Cllr Connell explained.

“The developer has failed to comply with that condition and others as set out in the grant of planning permission granted and I have had ongoing discussion with Laois County Council over the last 10 days in an effort to pause the works temporarily until such time as the developer complies with their obligations,” said Cllr Connell.

She said “the residents living adjacent to the site deserve basic manners from the developer and also better communication from Laois County Council to explain what is happening on their doorstep.”

Cllr Connell said it was her understanding that a warning letter had been sent to the developer. 

Laois County Council confirmed a complaint was received by the planning enforcement section on April 18 in relation to development. 

“Planning staff inspected the site and a report prepared. A warning letter issued to the registered owners and developers for “alleged unauthorised development consisting of but not limited to the laying out of hard standing haul road / roadway, fencing and site works at Dublin Road, Ballyroan (Townland), Portlaoise, Co.Laois, in non compliance with condition numbers 1,5,10,11,12,20 and 22 of ABP Reference 318535-23.” 

The council added that “warning letters issued to 16 parties, on 26th April 2024, including Glenveagh Homes Ltd and nine registered owners.”

When contacted in relation to the warning letter, a Glenveagh Homes Spokesman said: “We are aiming to start building these 195 new homes in Portlaoise as soon as possible – we have initiated enabling works before construction starts and are committed to ensuring all planning conditions are met.  

In every part of Ireland where we build new homes, we make it a priority to engage with the local community so that we can minimise any disruption that might take place. We are planning a comprehensive programme of support for and engagement with local community groups, schools and sports clubs, to contribute positively to the wider Portlaoise community.”