Housing red tape to delay Laois County Council plan for €775,000 Portlaoise site

A Portlaoise housing site with full planning approval for 49 houses and apartments is being bought by Laois County Council, but it means a further delay to build them as top quality social homes.

Planning permission will now have to be sought all over again in four separate stages from central Government.

An archeological study is also requested which could incur further delay and costs.

It means that the 3.3 acre site, described as an "eyesore" by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, will remain undeveloped for longer than if the private developer built the homes.

On Monday, October 21, she led approval of a request by Laois County Council to borrow €775,000 to buy the site on Green Mill Lane, Portlaoise.

The site is next to Dunnes Stores Shopping Centre on the N80 Mountmellick Road, is being bought from developer John Fingleton.

Back in 2022 Laois County Council granted him permission to build 49 homes, including 15 terraced, two-storey houses - 1 with 4 bedrooms and 14 with 3 bedroom) and 34 two-bed apartments across three 2-storey apartment blocks.

The new estate is to be access will be through the existing entrance to Mill Court.

"It has been vacant forever. Cois na hAbhainn and Bruach na hAbhann were built 20 years ago and Mill Court 15 years ago. It's great to see that the site will be developed, it's a strategic location right in the centre of town. We have seen building taking place further out. It's lying idle forever, it's an eyesore, it would be great to see housing there," she said.

Cllr Willie Aird seconded the proposal to borrow for the land purchase.

"A person was granted permission and now the council has stepped in to buy it. It's a ready to go site, I want you to give a date to commence work. The last piece of land we bought was Tyrrell's seven years ago and we still have no date for when a foundation will be poured there or when a person can occupy a house," he said.

Cllr Aisling Moran raised her concern about value for money, for both Green Mill Lane site and two more in Mountmellick, to build a total of 85 council homes. 

"We've been asked to agree to a loan for three sites for €1.25 million but again we've no valuations. You're asking us to agree to something blindfold. This land was once for sale for €195,000," she claimed.

Cllr Moran also urged that an archeological survey now required, be done ahead of the sale by the seller instead of the council.

"Could they not do it if they are going to get €750,000? You're opening a can of worms. I wouldn't buy it. It's not monopoly money, this is public money and we have to mind it," she advised.

Laois housing official Georgina Ireland explained why it will take longer to build council houses even though the site is approved already by their own planners.

"We'll have to go through four stages to get approval from the Department of Housing for all three sites. The architect might look for changes. If so it will have to go to the elected members as a Part 8 planning process.  If not we have to go through the stages of funding approval and tendering, it is hard to put a date on it," she said.

She agreed with Cllr Willie Aird who asked if an approved housing body had bought the site, they could build the homes faster.

"They go through a different scheme, Capital Assistance Loan Fund (CALF). In some cases they are in a position to get up and go quicker. For us it's complicated, we have to look at affordable purchase houses for people to buy their homes. They are narrowed but we have wider options," she said.

Acting CEO Simon Walton said the purchase of the three sites will help Laois County Council to keep building social houses into the coming years.

"Every day we have an eye out looking for suitable sites. We do scope them and look for issues. But there's no point spending hundreds or thousands on a site we don't own. The first step it to purchase. We've given very very careful consideration to this. 

Valuation reports are not made public by Laois County Council.

"I can confirm that the valuation for two sites is identical to the purchase price. The third is maybe €25,000 more. It all in in keeping with the valuation companies we tender to, we use four and they are professional, registered companies with a code of practice and I have faity in the valuations they supply to us," Mr Walton said.