Repeat application lodged for big housing estate in Laois heritage town

A planning application for a 51 house estate in Abbeyleix in Laois has been lodged to Laois County Council for the second time.

Applicant Jacqueline Duncan is seeking planning permission for the one, two, three and four bedroom properties at The Rookery, Tullyroe on the Ballacolla Road, near the entrance to Stripe billionaire John Collison's home at Abbey Leix House. 

The 51 houses includes 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.

The new application has a revised vehicle access plan, and a Natura Impact Assessment.

The 1.83 hectare site is currently used as a pasture field, and is in the demesne of Abbey Leix estate. 

The pretty planned estate town currently holds the title of Ireland's Tidiest Town.

The designers say that "the new houses aim to blend with the existing context by adopting a low rise approach".

Ten of the houses will be given to Laois County Council for social or affordable housing use, as per planning regulations.

The application was first submitted in January 2024 to be decided in March. However it was deemed 'invalid' by the planners.

They stated that this is because a previous withdrawn application was valid, therefore a yellow site notice had been required. They also said that an application fee of €3,395 had not been paid.

Included in the application are a bat survey, environmental impact assessment, tree protection plan, cultural heritage assessment and flood risk assessment.

The estate will have an ESB substation and a sewage pumping station, bin storage, car and bicycle parking and amenity areas.

A decision is due by May 22, 2024.