Portlaoise housing at hospital plan stalled as neighbour objects

An approved plan for six houses on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise, has been stalled, over an objection to An Bord Pleanála by a concerned neighbouring family who are registered blind.

Last March Laois County Council had approved the application by Portlaoise Service Station Ltd, to build six terraced A-rated two storey houses on the site of a demolished filling station right on the Block Road roundabout beside Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

The brownfield property is at the junction of Block Road (L6311) with the Dublin Road (R445).

It has been the subject of multiple planning refusals in the past, stalling its redevelopment.

The brownfield site on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise.  Image: Google Maps 2023

The council only gave approval after getting the developer to change aspects of the design, to accommodate submissions made by concerned neighbours.

They also had to get approval of councillors to do a material contravention of the Portlaoise Local Area Plan, because the site had been zoned for General Business, not Residential.

One of those neighbours has now appealed the planning decision to An Bord Pleanála, the national planning authority.

In his submission to Laois County Council, George Percy in the Fielbrook estate backing the site, explained that five people in the family are registered blind.

He said that the two-storey houses would overlook his home and create a "massive privacy issue".

He said that a proposed two metre tall boundary fence "will create a security risk for our three children with disabilities".

He had asked for a 2.5m boundary wall to replace the existing "cracked" wall, and for lockable gates to the back gardens of the new estate for security reasons for his family. He was also concerned that a proposed second fence parallel to the boundary wall will create a gap that would be a "perfect environment for rodents" and dumping.

"On three occasions we have had people enter our garden from the site and items have been stolen," Mr Percy said.

The applicant had agreed to install lockable gates in the new development, and install a 2m concrete fence instead of a timber one, and to repair the existing boundary wall. They said that the rear gardens would be levelled and permeable to absorb surface water.

An Bord Pleanála will now review all the planning files and make a decision to uphold or reject the plan, over the coming months.

A service station had operated on the site from 1966 until 2006. Since it was demolished, the site has seen many plans and objections but no construction.

The filling station site in 2009. Image: Google Maps.

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.