'Shocked' Laois councillor opposes housing plan for controversial Portlaoise site

A Laois councillor has expressed shock at the amount of homes planned in a controversial Portlaoise site.

The former Sinn Féin councillor has also urged Laois County Council not to take any more than on fifth of the estate for new social housing, predicting "mayhem" if it becomes a fully social housing estate.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley spoke at the April council meeting about the new plan for Doran's Field, a privately owned field next to O'Moore Place in Portlaoise. 

Laois County Council had spent years negotiating to buy the property to extend O'Moore Place, but recently its owner lodged their own application via developer Hebron Mooncoin.

While the application has been sent back for a second time by planners as it lacks some information, it is likely to be resubmitted.

It seeks to build 74 homes, a density of 34.5 units per hectare. This includes 24 'duplex' apartments in three storey buildings, 22 one and two-bedroom apartments and 28 two and three-bedroom two-storey houses. See story on the development here.

Cllr Dwane Stanley gave her concerns.

"I've been calling for four years that something be done. I welcome a planning application but I am shocked over them looking to throw 74 homes in a very challenging area.

"It is built up. Cois na hAbhainn estate is at the back. The vast majority will welcome that this field will be developed. It has plagued them for years, with rubbish dumped.

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"I don't know where 74 will be accepted in a small area. My understanding is that Laois County Council is obliged to take 20% of the properties for social housing and the other 80% will be sold. We can't have 74 council homes, there will be mayhem if that happens. I'm calling for 20% and no more.

"I was born and raised there, I know the area like the back of my hand. If 74 social houses go in it will be absolute mayhem. This should have been a smaller development," she said.

Laois County Council management said they could not comment because it was a live planning application.