Two major housing development plans lodged on land in Portlaoise

Bircrest Ltd are seeking permission for a two major developments at Summerhill in Portlaoise. 

The latest application to Laois County Council seeks permission for 57 houses, a two storey Neighbourhood Centre, a creche and active travel infrastructure.

According to the plan, the site is generally bound to the north by Aghnaharna Drive, to the east by the Holy Family School Road, and to the west and south by undeveloped agricultural lands., Portlaoise. 

The application is linked on the council's website to a site where Sydney Lewis had sought permission for 602 housing units and a residential care unit in 2008. 

The latest plan seeks: “The development will consist of: a 2 No. storey Neighbourhood Centre (1,484 sq m) principally comprising a retail unit 361 sq m), a creche (289 sq m), refuse storage (23 sq m) and cycle storage (65 sq m) at ground floor level and office floorspace (746 sq m) at ground and first floor level; the provision of 57 No. houses (comprising of: 5 No. detached dwellings (three-storey 5-bed); 3 No. semi-detached corner dwellings (two-storey 4-bed); 29 No. semi-detached dwellings (two-storey 4-bed); 20 No. edge house t-shape dwellings (two-storey 4-bed); and 5 No. 3 No. storey duplexes comprising 5 No. 2-bed units and 5 No. 3-bed units.”   

“The development will also include: a new Link Road through the site, providing vehicular entrance/exit to the site via O’Devoy (O’Deevy) roundabout; roof plant at the Neighbourhood Centre; ancillary car parking spaces; public open space; boundary treatments; hard and soft landscaping; sub-stations; lighting; and all associated site and development works above and below ground,” the application states. 

It included “proposed works at O’Devoy (O’Deevy) roundabout comprising active travel infrastructure improvements to include the introduction of new shared pedestrian/cycle areas on the southern side of the Southern Circular Road and Aghnaharna Drive and improved pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities across the site access arm of this junction. Proposal for the removal of the redundant western arm of the roundabout to the southeast at the Holy Family School Road and the provision of new active travel infrastructure incorporating a two-way cycle track with the adjoining footpath along the eastern boundary which transitions to a shared pedestrian / cycle facility to the north as it approaches the O’Kelly roundabout, and continues on the southern side of Aghnaharna Drive on the western arm of this roundabout.

Wastewater will be pumped via a rising main to discharge into the existing 450mm public wastewater sewer to the north-east at the O’Kelly roundabout. Potable water supply will be provided through a new connection to the existing 400mm public watermain on Aghnaharna Drive. A pumping station is proposed southwest of the main development site. The development site area, roadworks, water and drainage works, and pumping station will provide a total application site area of c. 3.39 Ha. 

The application was lodged with Laois County Council on Friday, September 1.

On the same date, Bircrest Ltd lodged another application to develop lands at Summerhill, also linked to the site where Sydney Lewis applied for 602 units and a residential care unit in 2008. 

This application was for 45 houses consisting of a mix of five, four and three bedroom properties. 

“The site is generally bound to the north by the Portlaoise Southern Circular Road, to the east by Holy Family School Road, and to the west and south by undeveloped agricultural lands. Works are also proposed at O’Devoy (O’Deevy) roundabout comprising active travel infrastructure improvements to include the introduction of new shared pedestrian / cycle areas on the southern side of the Southern Circular Road and Aghnaharna Drive and improved pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities across the site access arm of this junction. Wastewater will be pumped via a rising main to discharge into the existing 450mm public wastewater sewer to the north-east at the O’Kelly roundabout. Potable water supply will be provided through a new connection to the existing 400mm public watermain on Aghnaharna Drive," the plan states.  

"The development site area, roadworks, and water and drainage works will provide a total application site area of c. 2.37 Ha. The development will consist of the provision of 45 No. residential dwellings comprising: 1 No. detached dwelling (three-storey 5-bed); 2 No. semi-detached corner dwellings (two-storey 4-bed); 18 No. semi-detached dwellings (two-storey 4-bed); 20 No. edge house t-shape dwellings (two-storey 4-bed); and 4 No. semi-dwellings (two-storey 3-bed). The development will also include: a new Link Road through the site, providing vehicular entrance/exit via O’Devoy (O’Deevy) roundabout; ancillary car parking spaces; public open space; boundary treatments; hard and soft landscaping; sub-station; pumping station; lighting; and all associated site and development works above and below ground,” the application states.