Laois County Council seeks approval for 67 homes on important Portlaoise site

The largest greenfield site owned by Laois County Council in Portlaoise town centre is up for planning approval for the second time for new social housing.

Tyrrells Land off the Stradbally Road in the town covers 26 acres of green fields and woodlands.

About a fifth of it, 2.25 hectares (5.5acres) has now been earmarked for housing.

Laois County Council has announced intention to seek Part 8 planning approval from county councillors to build a mix of houses and apartments, totally 67 social homes.  

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

They say that the development will also include the provision of public open space, a public walk-way along the east boundary, flood defence infrastructure, public lighting, upgraded vehicular access along the Stradbally Road, 116 no. car parking spaces including both in-curtilage and on street parking, (includes required accessible parking space and EV charging spaces), and cycle parking.

It also plans new boundary treatments, an ESB Substation, laying of underground sewers, watermains and pipes, attenuation, the importation of soil and stone as by product for engineering and landscaping purposes within the development and all associated ancillary works including site development works, and hard and soft landscaping.

Google Maps aerial view of Tyrrell Land, the green space in centre of image.

The 26 acre parkland site called Tyrrell's Land, off the N80 Stradbally Road was bought by the council for €1.4 million in 2019.

It is planned to have compact council housing at one side accessed from the road. Most of the land is not zoned for residential use so it is planned to become a leisure and sporting area and extended preserved parklands for the public to enjoy. 

Laois County Council has plans to build outdoor playing pitches, basketball courts, a pavillion viewing stand and nature trails and playing areas in the rest of the site, opening it up to join with the People's Park on the Timahoe Road as one large amenity for the town to enjoy. 

Three years ago there had been a plan proposed by a consultancy team for 87 homes which were mostly apartments. Portlaoise councillors refused to accept it, because the homes were in three, four and five story apartment blocks (see image below) and they wanted two storey houses with gardens. 

The 2021 plan for apartments on Tyrrells Land, rejected by Portlaoise Municipal District councillors.

The council says that having carried out screening for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), they deem that no EIA is needed for the development. They also say that a Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment for conservation reasons, is not required either. 

The new plans for the site will go on public view, with public submissions taken, on the Laois County Council planning website from July 16 until August 13.  The final decision will be made by members of the Portlaoise Municipal District. Any person wishing to question that decision will have to take a Judicial Review to An Bord Pleanála.