Work to soon start on 67 houses on huge Laois council owned greenfield site

The long delayed construction of a major Laois County Council housing development in Portlaoise looks like it will finally be underway by summer 2025.

Tyrrells Land on the Stradbally road is to get 67 social and affordable houses and apartments.

It will be the council's biggest housing project in Portlaoise in decades. 

The plans, approved last summer by county councillors in a Part 8 planning application, will go on final view for public submissions on Tuesday, December 17.

About a fifth of the 26 acre parklands site, 5.5acres nearest the road, will be covered by the housing development.

There will be four two storey 4 bed units, 31 two storey 3 bed units, 11 two storey 2 bed units, four 3 bed duplex units, 13 first floor 2 bed apartments and four ground floor 1 bed apartments.

The site was bought by the council for €1.4 million in 2019. A previous architectural proposal of apartment blocks of 3, 4 and 5 storeys giving 87 homes was rejected by Portlaoise Municipal District councillors in 2021 due to their concern at the "high rise" buildings and lack of gardens. That refusal set back the project by several years.

Most of Tyrrells Land cannot be zoned for residential use so it is planned to become a park with sport and play areas, linking through the historic Downs woodlands to greatly expand the current People's Park. 

The plans are on display online at consult.laois.ie and in council offices, from December 17 until January 23 2025. Submissions can be made up to February 6.