Neighbours' woes continue for derelict Laois shopping centre site

Problems are still unresolved for neighbours of a long derelict Laois shopping site.

The high value development land in Portlaoise, once the iconic Centrepoint Shopping Centre owned by the Shaws retail business group, has been raised again to Laois County Council, over its unkempt condition.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley asked at the October council meeting about the site, which is expected to soon undergo a planning application by its owners.

"I know we are waiting on a more concrete plan. I had a motion at Portlaoise Municipal District asking the council to engage with residents at Pleasant Place over boundaries. There is a small laneway that you drive down, and the hedge is overgrown. 

"I dealt with two ladies, one of them told me that when the site went on fire and was demolished, that there was damage done to her boundary wall. 

"It's not the issue now, they are concerned that the owner hasn't done anything on their side. I ask you to meet the residents or the owner. This is important because we have no idea how long it's going to take to build. but they do need to look after the boundary," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

The burnt Centrepoint shopping centre in 2021 before the owners were forced by Laois County Council to clean it up. 

The council's Director of Services for planning, regeneration and economic development is Angela McEvoy. 

"There is a large residential development application being prepared for that. I'll bring the issues about the boundary treatments to attention of the senior planner who has a contact with the developers. We will liaise with you in relation to that," the director said.

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Large Scale Residential Developments have minimum 100 houses, or 200 student apartments, and are subject to a more streamlined faster planning process. A condition is the developer must create a dedicated website so the public can easily view the plans.

A six month deadline is counting down for the developer to submit a planning application, or they will be subject to fines.  The 2.31 hectare site is incurring fines on Laois County Council's Derelict Sites list. It is also liable for Residential Zoned Land Tax, designed to tackle landowners sitting on housing development lands.