A voluntary housing body is to build 34 new houses on the field behind O’Moore Place as part of the planned regeneration programme for the area, it has been confirmed.
Confirmation of the move came from a written response from SEO Michael Rainey following a motion on the issue by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley. She had sought an update on the council’s plans for the derelict houses in O’Moore Place, with particular reference to the two council owned fire damaged houses, and the field adjacent to the estate.
“It is this council’s aspiration that this will include the development of social housing on the adjoining lands were considerable anti-social behaviour has occurred,” Mr Rainey said.
“In that regard, the housing section has had a number of very productive meetings with the landowner and Co-Operative Housing Ireland. I can now confirm that the landowner has agreed to enter into a Heads of Agreement with the voluntary housing body for the provision of up to 34 houses on the site, subject to planning,” Mr Rainey outlined in his written response.
Co-Operative Housing Ireland has now instructed an architect firm to prepare preliminary drawings, he said, which will be presented to the Portlaoise Municipal District members when completed.
“I welcome the work that has been going on behind the scenes,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
“There have been problems in that field for as long as I can remember,” she said.
The regeneration plan needs to be brought forward soon, Cllr Dwane Stanley said. “I would like to see the plan in place for September,” she said.
The two fire damaged houses should be demolished, she said.
“One of the houses is completely burnt out and the other is structurally damaged. It would be the perfect opportunity (to demolish them) given the plans for the 34 houses,” she said.
During the recent fire, she said there was difficulty for fire brigades at the bottom of the estate. “There were three fire brigades on the scene and everyone of them had to reverse up the road, which was very dangerous,” she said.
The work of the housing department and local gardaí was acknowledged by Cllr Dwane Stanley.
“It is probably the oldest housing estate in the town,” Cllr Noel Tuohy said. “There was a feeling that it was forgotten about in the past but that isn’t the case with this council,” he said.
Complimenting everyone associated with the news, Cllr Willie Aird said “I would especially like to thank the gardaí for their continued work, things have quietened down there”.
“O’Moore Place was the very first estate built in Portlaoise. I remember my grandmother talking about it,” Cllr Aird said.
Green area
It was particularly important that a green area is not left at the back of the houses, Cllr Aird said.
“We want it in front of the houses,” he said.
“If we had a green area at the front of O’Moore Place, then it would have been a lot better off for everybody,” Cllr Aird said.
Cllr Dwane Stanley agreed that this was a “key point”.
Municipal Cathaoirleach Cllr Mary Sweeney said the provision of green spaces is standard practice when any new estates are being built.
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