Drop and go carpark offer at Portlaoise CBS and Scoil Chriost Ri schools

Help to solve a decade old problem of a lack of parking outside two Portlaoise secondary schools has been offered by a Laois developer who owns land next door and is looking for a zoning deal.

However Laois County Council is not in favour. 

Graham Developments in Laois own the field beside Scoil Chríost Rí and St Mary's CBS.

It is the only green space left beside the campus which is restricted by housing, roads and a rail track on its other three sides. 

The company has suggested rezoning the land for more housing, and a drop-off and pick-up area next door, in a submission to the Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan.

“Graham Developments own 7.3 acres of land along the Borris Road. The land is partially zoned for Residential 2 – New Proposed Residential use and partially zoned for Community, Educational and Institutional use.

“The land is a greenfield site with extensive road frontage and is fully serviced. It is not located in an Architectural Conservation Area and has no protected structures within its boundaries.

“Graham Developments are constructing 23 detached dwellings on the lands zoned for residential use and wish to propose an extension to the Residential 2 zoning into their adjacent land currently zoned for Community, Educational and Institutional use. Table 13.3 of the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027 states that lands zoned for Community, Educational and Institutional use are open to being developed for dwellings.

“In addition to the dwellings, Graham Developments are offering land in lieu in the form of a dropoff and pick-up area, which would help to alleviate congestion on the Borris Road.

“The development of the site with residential dwellings would be compatible with the 15 minute neighbourhood concept.”

However Laois County Council is not in favour of a deal.

Firstly the council says it cannot make rezoning decisions as part of the Portlaoise Local Area Plan. Instead those decisions will be part of the updated Laois County Development Plan next year. 

On top of that, the council says it would go against a recommendation by the Department of Education.

“The Department of Education have cited a preference to expand existing school facilities if possible, to cater for potential additional school places if required. To this end, the Department of Education have requested to Planning Authority to examine the potential of providing a land buffer around each of the school to enable them to expand further if necessary. It is considered that the proposed zoning request would directly conflict with this and would not therefore be appropriate.”

The amended Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan, set to last up to 2030, will now again go on public display, and is expected to be adopted by December.