Green light for 47 new homes near picturesque Laois Estate

Plans to build 47 new houses not far from Abbeyleix Estate have been approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Jacqueline Duncan applied to Laois County Council for planning permission for the one, two, three and four bedroom properties at The Rookery, Tullyroe, Ballacolla Road in Abbeyleix in March of 2024.

The planned development was revised in December 2024 after Further Information was sought by Laois County Council. It was reduced from 51 to 47 units and now comprises 43 two storey terraced, semi terraced and detached houses and four maisonettes on a 1.83 hectare site.

The planning application was approved by Laois County Council subject to 20 conditions on March 21, 2025.

It had attracted over a dozen submissions while it was being considered by the Council’s planning department. They included a submission from the applicant’s father and from Ken and Frances Black who said: “Abbeyleix is a Heritage Town and the 2023 Tidy Town’s winner. All future proposed development on the fringes of the town’s environs will hopefully be granted with consideration to the rural surrounds, biodiversity, ecology and environmental needs. A low density development on this site may be better aligned.”

A submission was also lodged by the applicant’s father. In his submission supporting the proposed development, Anthony J Duncan, stated that Abbeyleix needs new housing.

“The application deals in detail with all points as raised by the various submissions and is in conformity with the Development Plan. Nimbyism has no place in our society or planning process,” stated Mr Duncan.

He noted: “The Abbeyleix Estate (Mr John Collison) has not objected and in fact is on record as being totally supportive of the need to increase the supply of housing(Irish Independent 9/01/2022).”

The planning approval by Laois County Council was subsequently appealed to An Commisiun Pleanala.

An agent for Ken and Frances Black of Sweetview, Abbeyleix, appealed the plans and queried the proposed development’s compliance with National Planning Framework policies and the Laois County Development Plan. Concerns were raised about the environment, wastewater capacity, traffic, appropriateness of the site and the potential for flooding. William X White and Others also appealed the development on similar grounds.

However, an Inspector with ACP stated that “the Commission was satisfied that the proposed development is an acceptable form and type of development at this location and is supported by policy at national, regional and local levels including contributing positively to compact growth and urban consolidation.”

She said “The Commission was also satisfied that subject to the conditions hereby attached, the proposed development would not give rise to a traffic hazard and would be acceptable in terms of protecting adjoining residential amenity. The Commission was satisfied that the proposals for waste water management were acceptable. The proposed development was, therefore, considered to be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

A Planning Commissioner granted permission for the houses subject to 20 conditions. He stated that “having regard to the location of the subject site on land zoned for residential development, within the development boundary of Abbeyleix, the Commission was satisfied that the proposed development is an acceptable form and type of development at this location and is supported by policy at national, regional and local levels including contributing positively to compact growth and urban Consolidation.”

ACP found that “the Commission was also satisfied that subject to the conditions hereby attached, the proposed development would not give rise to a traffic hazard, would not be prejudicial to public health and would be acceptable in terms of protecting adjoining residential amenity. The proposed development is, therefore, considered to be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW

Source

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today