Decision on former Laois toy shop building due in early August

Laois County Council could be given the green light to buy the derelict building that once housed the first Ken Black’s store in early August. 

The building at 88 Main Street, Pepper's Lane / Lyster Lane, Portlaoise is facing compulsory acquisition under the Derelict Sites Act. The Council has now lodged a formal application with An Coimisiún Pleanála to purchase the building which has been vacant for over a decade. 

It was once owned by the Black family in Portlaoise and became the first Ken Black toy store some 40 years ago, later extending back to open onto Pepper's Lane. The building was vacated when a new large shop was built in Kylekiproe beside the Kyle Centre in the 1990s.

The building was occupied by a ladies boutique for a period around 2009 but has been vacant for over a decade, and had fallen into dereliction. Its facade is painted with graffiti.

Laois County Council describe it as: "A derelict site comprising two-storey commercial units and surrounding land situated at 88 Main Street, Lyster Lane/Pepper’s Lane, Portlaoise containing 0.0938 hectares or thereabouts. The said property and surrounding land is in a state of dereliction."  

As part of the Compulsory Purchase Order(CPO) process, Laois County Council applied to An Coimisiún Pleanála to acquire the building on March 6. A decision on whether or not to grant the CPO is expected to be made by An Coimisiún Pleanála by August 3. 

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If there are no objections and the application is granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála,  the Council can proceed with the CPO and purchase the property. The building’s owners would be entitled to compensation and would have 12 months to apply from the time a vesting order, which transfers ownership to Laois County Council, is issued if the process proceeds.