Two Laois vacant site owners to be asked for report of housing plans

The owners of two prominent vacant sites in Portlaoise are to be asked to give a report to councillors on their promise of housing plans on them.

Centrepoint shopping centre on the Mountrath road is one, while the site of a demolished house beside Beechfield housing estate on the Mountmellick road is the other.

However Laois County Council says it has no power to make the owners show their plans to Portlaoise Municipal District councillors.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley asked for the council to seek an update on Centrepoint's future, in a motion tabled to their December meeting, describing it as "a blight on the town".

The council replied that the owner is "progressing plans for a residential development and has engaged in pre planning discussions with the planning department".

She wants to know further.

"I'm disappointed. This site is strategic, it's a blight on the town in a built up area. People on Harpur's Lane are concerned what could end up beside them. This is a derelict site, it's there for years. As seven councillors it's a fright to say we can't get information on their plans. We heard for years that it was going to be part residential, part commercial. People want to know what's happening. Are they sitting on it?" she said.

She noted that as councillors they get to see the housing plans in advance on other projects like Portlaoise Convent and Tyrrell's Land.

Director of Services Simon Walton explained that the council is directly involved in those schemes.

"This ie privately owned, it's a matter for the owner to submit their own proposals. There is little we can do because we don't control it," he said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald asked for a report.

"It's not fair on anyone in the town," she said.

She tabled a motion on the second site beside Beechfield.

"I've been banging the drum on this for years, it's just not fair. Residents in Beechfield are sick and tired. It's in an absolutely dreadful state. There is a lot of anti-social behaviour. There will probably be a minimum charge on it as a derelict site. Tidy Towns, the Town Team, so many people are doing voluntary work, that we have to force this issue. 

"I've told you before that people are terrified oil tanks are back to back with fires by people squatting. It's terrible at this stage that you can't do anything, residents just don't feel safe.

"I ask for an update on Centrepoint and on Beechfield. If we work together it will benefit the town," she said.

The council's official reply to her call for an update on the Beechfield site, is that the planning permission granted in 2019 for a multi-unit housing development has now expired.

"A previous derelict sites file for this site was closed in 2022 following the carrying out of improvement works. Planning has now opened a new file for this site and will take the necessary steps to address dereliction."