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amend permission of the permitted Neighbourhood Centre building granted under LCC Reg. Ref. 23/60348, as amended under LCC Reg. Ref. 25/60040, (now known as ‘Sand Wood’). The site is generally bound to the north by Aghnaharna Drive, to the east by Holy Family School Road, and to the west and south by undeveloped lands and a residential development currently under construction, granted under LCC Reg. Ref. 23/60350 (also known as ‘Sand Wood’). No amendments are proposed to the permitted 67 No. residential units. The development will principally consist of: the change of use of the permitted creche and cycle store to a retail unit; the subdivision and part change of use of the permitted retail unit to a medical centre, retail unit, a refuse store and ESB switchroom; provision of a mezzanine level (c. 139 sq m) above first floor level within the southern extent of the Neighbourhood Centre building to provide additional office floor space; rationalisation of the ground and first floor layouts of the Neighbourhood Centre building and modifications to the footprint of the building, increasing the floor area by c. 57 sq m. The development will result in an overall increase in floor area of the Neighbourhood Centre building by c. 196 sq m, from 1,426 sq m to c. 1,622 sq m. The development also proposes: the provision of 3 No. additional car parking spaces; minor cycle & car parking layout changes; landscaping; boundary treatments; and all other associated site works above and below ground.

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The proposed removal of a permitted creche facility without a guaranteed or constructed replacement would result in a deficiency of essential social infrastructure for the residential population.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The removal of the permitted creche facility within the Neighbourhood Centre would lead to a significant deficiency in essential social and community infrastructure for the local residential population.
  • Reliance on a replacement creche in a separate phase is deemed premature as that facility is not yet constructed and lacks a legally enforceable phasing strategy to ensure timely delivery.
  • The development would undermine the creation of a balanced, sustainable community and is contrary to the zoning objective for Residential 2 lands which seeks to provide for residential services and community facilities.

Cited Policies (CDP)

Chapter 7DM TC 1 Commercial/Retail DevelopmentRTP 6RTP 7Residential 2 zoning objective

Decision Document Summary

Bircrest Limited sought to amend a previously permitted Neighbourhood Centre at Summerhill, Portlaoise, by replacing a permitted creche and cycle store with retail use and adding a mezzanine for office space. While the site is zoned for residential services, Laois County Council refused the application primarily due to the loss of the childcare facility. The planner concluded that removing the creche before a replacement is operational would leave the area with inadequate social infrastructure, ...
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