Fewer one-off houses get planning permission in Laois

The number of one-off houses granted planning permission by Laois County Council fell in 2023 by about 16%, to 159.

In 2022 the council had granted 188 applications for standalone single houses.

There were however more multiple homes in urban housing estates approved, up from 222 to 241.

The overall number of valid planning applications made in Laois also fell over the 12 month period, from 618 to 534.

There were less approvals too, down from 581 to 521.

Fewer were refused, 23 compared to 44 in 2022.

More were returned as “invalid”, 332 up from 225.

Laois County Council planners explained the rise in invalidated applications, in the monthly management report.

"Reasons for the high invalidation rate relate to the introduction of the Digital EPlanning System which will only validate when the application is complete and correct," they state.