Huge demand for council serviced sites in Laois

SUBJECT to proper planning procedures log cabins and modular homes will be permitted to be erected on council serviced sites around Laois.

That’s according to the Director of Services in the housing department of Laois County Council Angela McEvoy.

She was answering a query from cllr John King whether modular homes could be built on the council’s serviced sites because they would be less expensive to build than conventional houses.

The discussion took place during the January meeting of Laois County Council following the council’s executive officer Michael Rainey report, that to date, the council had completed four serviced sites in both Durrow and in Ballyroan. He also said that another two serviced sites are in progress in Doonane and another four in Durrow. With nine further sites in Castletown and two in Clonaslee under construction.

Ms McEvoy said the council is actively looking to increase its land banks to offer serviced sites on them and asked landowners to contact the council if they feel they have suitable lands to offer.

She said: “We are open to expressions of interest to sell us land across the county. Obviously we would prefer if they were zoned and serviced land. That said we will be looking at a variation, where land is used up. We are seeing a lot more building in towns and villages.” 

Regarding log built cabins and modular homes on serviced sites, Ms McEvoy said: “Modular houses and log cabins would be considered but obviously would have to go through the proper planning procedures.” 

Cllr James Kelly noted the minimum requirement the council was looking to purchase land was .25 of an acre and added: “There’s a lot of cottages on statue acres where we could probably get four sites on. It’s ok people buying them but we don’t want them sitting on them.” 

He went on to ask what time frame is involved from when people get approval to build on a service site to completion?

The council’s senior engineer Trevor Hennessy said that once a person has indicated their decision to purchase the site and submits a deposit, that’s when the timeline starts.

He said: “They then have three-months to lodge their planning permission. If planning permission is granted they then have 12-months to commence work on site.” 

Cllr Ben Brennan said that there is land in the Crettyard area that could be used for serviced sites and knows two local building contractors who are available to provide services on the site, “and people willing to build houses. We should let them build what they want regardless. We need to keep local communities going.” 

He said: “Six or seven people have contacted me already about serviced sites. But at the moment there is nothing happening in the area.” 

Mr Hennessy said that he would meet with cllr Brennan in Crettyard on the proposed lands that he was taking about, adding: “In the next two months we will be advertising two sites in Crettyard.” 

Cllr Conor Bergin welcomed the development of nine serviced sites in Castletown which he said is attracting much interest from prospective buyers and asked could more sites be made available.