Plans lodged for aparthotel in centre of Laois town

PLANS for a five-storey aparthotel have been lodged on a site in the heart of Portlaoise.

The Maltings and Granary Group Ltd has notified Laois Co Council of its intention to apply for planning permission for the development of land at Harpur’s Lane, on a section of the former Minch Norton Maltings site.

The proposed aparthotel, five storeys in height, will incorporate 25 numbered guest suites comprising 13 one-bedroom suites and 12 two-bedroom suites.

The development will also include a refuse store, a bicycle store, an ESB substation and a rooftop amenity terrace located on the third floor.

The Maltings and Granary Group had previously notified Laois Co Council of its intention to develop the land in 2021, but the notice has since expired.

The group has since consolidated two pieces of land at the site, which has now been earmarked for the development of the aparthotel.

Aparthotels are designed to accommodate short-term lets, for those travelling or working in industries such as healthcare or research who may need to stay in a location for a pre-determined period, typically for a few months.

The proposed development will also consist of hard and soft landscaping, an external generator, boundary treatments, car parking, bicycle parking, vehicle access to the existing estate road and various other site works.

The land, which runs parallel to the railway line, has been subject to numerous proposals for over two decades.

The proposed building will consist of works within the curtilage of a protected structure. The planning application may be inspected at Laois Co Council for up to five weeks.