Major plans for former Portlaoise Church property in heart of Laois town

One of the longest-established construction companies in Laois is in the process of lodging plans with Laois County Council to redevelop prime Portlaoise lands for commercial use. 

Graham Developments Limited is applying for planning permission for the extensive redevelopment of the town centre site which borders the Dublin and Ridge Roads. The project will be located on land the was formerly owned by the Presentation Sisters and Portlaoise Parish. 

Part of the property earmarked for development borders the historic Port Leix house while another section is beside buildings and the site of the old Parish church.

The developers say they want to build one retail building containing two large retail units on the land with a separate enclosed service area and one restaurant with drive-thru facility.

In a notice to the council, the builders say the proposed development will include the demolition of two residential bungalows and garden walls. These houses were formerly owned by Portlaoise Parish which also owned the Port Leix House that is currently undergoing renovation which the Grahams are understood to be carrying out.

The builders also want to partially knock the existing boundary wall along Ridge Road to form a new pedestrian access/plaza to the development. The erection of a new railing boundary road and replacement with a new retaining boundary wall with railings along the Ridge Road is included.

Grahams say the project will include the provision of a new access road to the northeast of the development off the Ridge Road. A car park with 90 car parking spaces is also planned.

They also want to install two totem signs beside the proposed development along the Dublin Road and Ridge Road elevations.

Landscaping, drainage, footpaths, lighting and all ancillary works necessary to facilitate the proposed development are also planned.

The Grahams say they have provided for a public project driven by Laois County Council. They say the project will facilitate an area required for the future construction of the Triogue Blueway by the council.

The development will border Laois County Council-driven social housing project in the pipeline on property formerly owned by the Presentation Sisters.

Sophia Housing, a voluntary housing body, intends to develop 52 new homes in a new building and the former Presentation Covent and school. The scheme involves the Department of Housing.

Parish and Presentation lands and buildings were put on the market in 2016 with an expectation of selling for €2.5 million. The property was put on sale after the opening of the Holy Family Schools which saw the Sacred Heart and Scoil Mhuire schools merge and move to a new home.

The original eight acres took in property that bordered Dublin, Ridge Roads and Church Avenue. It included the Parochial house and Presentation Convent, Sacred Heart and Scoil Mhuire schools, greenfield areas and the site of the demolished Portlaoise Parish church.  The Presentation Convent owned 60% of the original property with the remainder in the Parish's hands.

The sale plan had changed by 2018 when the Council entered the equation with a view to developing the property along Church Avenue. Sometime after that, Grahams are understood to have reached a deal for the remainder.

Much of the Presentation Sisters' property grew increasingly unused over the years. Much of the site which Grahams wants to redevelop was used by Scoil Chríost Rí secondary school up to 2010 but has remained vacant since.  

The Presentation Sisters previously planned social housing on part of the land.

The latest project will be carried out not far from an extensive redevelopment of Church land formerly owned by the Christian Brothers on Towerhill. Social housing and a car park are currently under construction.

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Grahams have lodged their application with Laois County Council's planners but the initial paperwork as been ruled incomplete.