Five council homes to be built on two vacant housing sites

Two unbuilt sites in a Portlaoise housing estate are to yield five new council houses, Laois County Council has confirmed.

The council bought the two sites, number 26 and 27 Triogue Manor, Green Mill Lane in Portlaoise by Compulsory Purchase Order in 2024. 

The sites had been left with just a concrete foundation laid since the estate was built over 20 years ago. 

“The two sites will yield five houses,” Director of Service Angela McEvoy stated at the January council meeting.

The houses are at stage one of the four stage planning process. The plan to build on them awaits initial approval for funding by the Department of Housing.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley welcomed the progress.

“It will be a huge relief for residents,” she said, having asked for the update.

Two other unfinished sites in Triogue Manor had been on the verge of the CPO process.

Sites numbered 50 and 51 were left in a similar state, with just foundations poured. 

In 2023, Laois County Council confirmed that the sites were going to be added to the Derelict Sites Register, with fines to ensue if they were left in the same condition.

They said the owner promised to build on them. Nishata Ltd was given planning approval to build three houses on the sites of no. 50 and 51 back in 2019, which expired last year.

"The owner has responded verbally to his notice indicating their intention to address the derelict site notices and bring forward proposals for developing the sites," the planners stated in 2023.