Housing approved on derelict site of former Portlaoise filling station

Laois County Council has approved land rezoning in Portlaoise so houses can be built on the derelict site of a demolished filling station.

The site is off the Dublin Road and Block Road roundabout beside Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. It has been the subject of multiple planning refusals in the past, stalling its redevelopment.

Submissions were made by neighbours in concern at the latest plan, prompting a request for further information by the Laois planners to address those concerns.

This week planners told councillors that they are ready to approve the planning application by Portlaoise Service Station Ltd, for six terraced A-rated two storey houses.

Four will have three bedrooms, and two will have two, with a shared 14 space carpark and bin storage areas at the front and private gardens to the rear.

They asked councillors to approve a "material contravention" of the General Business zoning of the site. This was proposed by Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, seconded by Cllr John Joe Fennelly and then given a unanimous vote of approval by all Laois councillors, at their February monthly meeting.

Some of the concerns of the neighbours include security issues by a family living next door, who are all registered blind.

The site has changed little in the past 16 years, as this Google Maps image from 2009 shows.

George Percy in the Fielbrook estate asked for a higher boundary wall, and for lockable gates to the back gardens of the new estate for security reasons for his family. He is concerned at being overlooked by the new houses, and that a proposed second fence parallel to the boundary wall will create a gap that would be a "perfect environment for rodents" and dumping.

Another neighbour, Paraic Whelan wants protection for his boundary wall and hedge, and is concerned at dirt and noise during construction. While adding he is not opposed to the new houses, he suggests five not six to give more open space.

Read also: Planning approved to knock derelict Portlaoise hotel for social housing

Brian and Eithne Delaney live on the other side of the site, and say the proposed development will be just 1.5m from their house.  They have a kitchen extractor fan and windows and glass door on that side of their house and request a shadow survey. They fear that their kitchen wall will not withstand construction so close, and say it was shaking when the site was being excavated. 

The applicant agreed to the locked gates and adjusted the height of the new houses to be in line with neighbouring homes which also have two stories. They said they will take measures to protect and mitigate any damage to boundaries, installing a concrete fence instead of timber. The council say they are satisfied to approve the altered plan.

A service station operated on the site from 1966 until 2006.

Since the original filling station was demolished, the site has seen many plans but no construction. In 2011 permission was refused for another 2 storey filling station and shop. In 2012 permission was granted for a single storey version, but this was appealed to An Bord Pleanála who overturned permission. In 2013 permission was granted for a two storey medical centre with pharmacy. This was appealed to An Bord Pleanála who also approved it. However the applicants say it was not built because they were not able to find an anchor tenant.