Creche and 202 houses approved on three sites in Portlaoise

Laois County Council has given a developer permission to build 202 homes across three neighbouring sites in Portlaoise. 

The houses on three sites with a total area of 9.8 hectares will be the second, third and fourth phases of the Sand Wood estate located at Summerhill in Portlaoise. It already has permission for 112 houses for its first phase. 

Developer Bircrest Ltd was granted permission for the three development sites subject to a number of conditions. The proposal was made possible when Councillors voted in favour of rezoning land at the December meeting of Laois County Council. 

According to a planning report lodged with the application, Bircrest Limited intends to commence development at the site at the earliest opportunity subject to planning and construction timeframes.

“Bircrest Limited, is a subsidiary company of the London based Hollybrook Group. Hollybrook Group is a major development firm that has completed a large number of the UK's most innovative and successful developments,” the report noted. 

It states that there are numerous schools located in close proximity to the proposed site, including the Educate Together National School, a Gaelscoil and Maryborough (Church of Ireland) National School all accessed along Aghnaharna Drive and the Southern Circular Road, and a short walk from the subject site. 

“Portlaoise Town Park and The People’s Park are located only a c. 11-minute walk or a c. 4-minute cycle from the subject site. There is a plentiful supply of shops and retail units nearby, with the closest food store being Mr Price, located west of the subject site along the Southern Circular Road and only a c. 2-minute drive, a c. 8-minute walk, or a c. 3-minute’s cycle,” the report states in relation to the 92 unit phase two. 

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It found the proposal represents an appropriate suburban extension designed with “key linkages into the Phase 1A and 1B lands to ensure the provision of a cohesive environment across the Sand Wood Development”.

“The proposed development has been well considered by a highly experienced Design Team, cognisant of the planning history of the surrounding area and having due regard to National, Regional and Local Level Planning Policy. The proposed residential development will, inter alia, provide local amenity space for future occupants of the development as well as much needed housing to respond to the rapidly growing population of Portlaoise,” the report states. 

Phase two consists of a total of 92 houses including 86 four bed and six two bed sheltered housing units, parking, public open space, landscaping and lighting  on a 3.85 hectare site.

Phase three includes a creche and 74 houses comprising of 64 four beds, four one beds and six two bed sheltered houses and associated works on a 4.15 hectare site. 

Phase four will have 36 four bed two storey houses and associated works located on a 1.82 hectare site at Summerhill. 

The second phase was approved subject to 19 conditions while the third and fourth phases were approved subject to 20 conditions. 

A planners report stated that “the proposed development provides a range of high-quality dwellings and a mix of dwelling types and sizes as required by local planning policy. The scheme will be constructed by a well-established developer with an excellent track-record for high-quality schemes. The scheme also provides a large quantum of landscaped public open space which will provide an attractive and useable public realm for the proposed residents as well as the wider community.”

It also stated that “the proposed development will facilitate one of the next segments of the new Link Road which will provide a new route between the Southern Circular Road / Aghnaharna Drive to the north-west of the site to the R425 road south-east of the subject site. The proposed road will also increase permeability and connectivity in the area by providing safe and convenient active travel infrastructure for future residents and members of the public.”