Plans for 51 houses near billionaire's Laois mansion appealed

Plans to build 51 new houses in Abbeyleix have been appealed to An Bord Pleanala. 

Jacqueline Duncan had applied for planning permission for the one, two, three and four bedroom properties at The Rookery, Tullyroe, Ballacolla Road in Abbeyleix in March of 2024. 

The 51 planned houses included eight four bedroom houses, half of which are detached and the other half are semi detached. There are 25 three bedroom houses which are a mix of semi detached and mid and end of terrace houses. There are 14 two bedroom houses and four one bedroom maisonettes over two storeys on a 1.99 hectare site. 

The planning application was lodged with Laois County Council in March of 2024 and after a request for further information in May of 2024 it was approved subject to 20 conditions on March 21, 2025. 

The planning permission attracted over a dozen submissions while it was being considered by Laois County Council’s planning department. 

A number of residents raised concerns about the density of the proposed housing which is located close to the boundary of the Abbeyleix Estate.  Other submissions related to traffic and the capacity of the local services. 

In his submission, William X White, questioned the appropriateness of the site. He said it was “a rural setting some distance from Abbeyleix.” Mr White also questioned the adequacy water and sewage systems in the area.    

In their submission Ken and Frances Black stated that  “Abbeyleix is a Heritage Town and the 2023 Tidy Town's winner. All future proposed development on the fringes of the town's environs will hopefully be granted with consideration to the rural surrounds, biodiversity, ecology and environmental needs. A low density development on this site may be better aligned.” 

A submission was lodged in relation to the development from the applicant’s father. In his submission supporting the proposed development, Anthony J Duncan, stated that Abbeyleix needs new housing.  

“The application deals in detail with all points as raised by the various submissions and is in conformity with the Development Plan. Nimbyism has no place in our society or planning process,” stated Mr Duncan.

“The Abbeyleix Estate (Mr John Collison) has not objected and in fact is on record as being totally supportive of the need to increase the supply of housing(Irish Independent 9/01/2022)

I am totally supportive of this application. In the interest of transparency I advise that the applicant is my daughter,” he added.

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The plans approved by Laois County Council  have now been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Ken and Frances Black and William X White and Others.

A final decision on the application is expected to be made by An Bord Pleanala by August 20.