Councillors approve new town housing project in Laois

An ambitious plan to convert a row of Laois town houses into social housing has been approved by councillors.

A row of three redbrick Edwardian era townhouses in the heart of Portlaoise was purchased by Laois County Council to create homes for tenants on its waiting list.

A derelict garage will be demolished, to make way for two modern two storey blocks totalling four apartments.  More below planning drawing.

Iona was sold to the council in 2018 for €109,000, with the auctioneer describing it as “a stunning period home with immense charm, in need of complete refurbishment”.

The other two will undergo a sympathetic renovation, with the total development named Iona. 

The houses are along the Abbeyleix Road between Market Square and James Fintan Lalor Avenue, opposite Brady’s garage. A lane behind them will give rear vehicular access to six parking spaces (image below).

The project will deliver seven new homes for council tenants, with the council hoping that work will begin before the end of 2023.

However while approving the plans, councillors raised concerns that there are just six parking spaces off the lane behind the houses.

The project was proposed by Cllr Willie Aird.

“I am so delighted to see the council build. We have built nothing since Conniberry. Will it start before the end of the year?” he said.

Director of Services for Housing is Angela McEvoy.

“Hopefully yes we would see it starting by then,” she said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald raised the concern about the few parking spaces.

“I am delighted, it is a lovely development, the only problem is parking. Is it possible that people who don’t have cars will go in? What is the situation, will there be five or six spaces? Where are they going to park?” she asked. 

Ms McEvoy agreed.

“Yes there are limitations on parking, we’ll be very mindful in the allocation of units to families and their needs. I don’t imagine there would be too much parking on the street,” she said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley raised another concern by a neighbour who missed the opportunity to submit his opinion while the project was on public display.

“It is overlooking his garden, I ask that this be taken into consideration,” she said.

The Cathaoirleach Cllr Thomasina Connell, said the homes offer “walkability”.

“Some of the properties were derelict. It’s important to see walkability and get people out of cars and living in the town centre. I hope the 18 month timeline is stuck to,” she said.

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The four apartments will each have one bedroom. Two houses will have three bedrooms, with the other having two bedrooms. 

The project called Iona now goes back to the Department of Housing to get approval on costings, after which it goes out to tenders for designers and then builders.