A planning application to turn a former Laois convent that has been vacant for decades into apartments has been submitted.
Vesta Construction Ltd is seeking to turn the Presentation Convent on Main Street in Stradbally into 18 apartments.
In November 2023, due to its deteriorating condition, the convent was placed on the Derelict Sites Register by Laois County Council.
The building, constructed back in 1880 and one time a home to nuns, has not been in use for almost 20 years and is lying derelict.
It is understood that when the nuns left Stradbally, they sold the convent and then it subsequently ended up in NAMA.
The property changed hands a couple of times with Fianna Fail Councillor Paschal McEvoy proposing in 2022 that Laois County Council purchase it and turn it into a co-working space.
But now the current plan is to replace it with apartments and demolish a two storey and single storey building at the rear of the convent.
Vesta plan the “Renovation and upgrade works to the existing convent building to include for sub-division to provide for 18Nr. residential units.
“These are broken down as: 4 Nr. 1 Bed apartments and 1 Nr. 2 bedroom apartment on the ground floor (existing), 3 Nr. 1 Bed apartments on the 1st floor (existing), 2 Nr. 1 Bed apartments (existing) and 2 Nr. 2 Bedroom apartments (Church) on the 1st floor (+1), 3 Nr. 1 Bed apartments on the 2nd floor (existing), 2 Nr. 1 Bed apartments on the ground floor – new build 1 Nr. 1 Bed apartments on the 1st floor – new build, , and all external groundworks and associated siteworks.
A decision on the proposed development is due by June 30.
