Two duplex social housing apartments approved for Portarlington

Laois county councillors have given planning approval for the authority to convert a town house into two apartments.

Barrow Villa on French Church Street in Portarlington next to the River Barrow previously had a boutique business on the ground floor before the council purchased it.

Now the property will be remodelled and insulated externally to provide two homes for social tenants, with two bedrooms and one bedroom.

The Part 8 planning which sidesteps public planning procedures, was first advertised last December but no public submissions were received. The council say it benefits by being off the public footpath, and in walking distance of schools, shops and recreation activities, and a carpark.

An archeologist will oversee ground works, on request by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,  because they note that the site is inside the zone of Recorded Monument town defences. 

The site is in the 100 year flood risk map, but can proceed because there is no extra footprint added to the building. 

Cllr Paddy Buggy proposed the Part 8 planning approval, seconded by Cllr Aidan Mullins. 

Cllr Mullins who is from the town complained later in the same meeting at the low number of Portarlington social homes planned by Laois County Council. 

The project will now be submitted to the Department of Housing for Stage two funding approval.