Apartments plan for landmark Laois house gets green light

Plans to renovate a landmark Laois house and to use it and two new four storey blocks to build 32 apartments has been given the green light. 

Ardain Developments Ltd has been granted planning permission by Laois County Council for the development at lands at  Maryville House, Church Street, Portlaoise. 

Ardain Developments intends to demolish the non-original additions to Maryville House, a regency style villa which was built around 1855 and formerly used by the Christian Brothers. 

The developer also plans to renovate the original Maryville House and use it to construct four two bedroom apartments. Each of the planned two new four storey blocks will house 14 two-bedroom apartments.

 
The planning application indicates that a total of 85.4sqm of the existing Maryville House is deemed non original and due for demolition along with a detached shed.The two apartment blocks are to be connected to the house by a single storey glazed links.

“All apartments have private terraces. The development features 90 no. bicycle spaces (16 visitor spaces and 74 resident spaces); 20 no. car parking spaces; refuse storage; landscaping; foul and surface water drainage and all associated site development works,” the plans stated. 

Council planners requested further information on a number of matters including the disposal of surface water from the development, turning facilities and details about electric vehicle charging points. 

The application was granted with 19 conditions attached. 

Recommendations from a bat survey report and a tree report including tree protection measures must be implemented in full. The works to the protected structure must be carried out under the direction of a conservation architect and a stage three road safety audit must be carried out and submitted to the local authority.