PICTURES: Construction underway of delayed new Portlaoise social housing estate

A huge housing development has kicked off in Portlaoise to deliver the largest social housing estate in the town in decades, on a large site with a troubled past of anti-social activity.

Clúid housing and Laois County Council will deliver 54 houses in a new estate called Radharc Darach (oak view), on the Ballyfin Road.

The multi-million development - estimated at €15 million in 2023 - is replacing a demolished housing estate where a shooting once took place, along with burning of houses, attacks on emergency service vehicles and widescale dumping in the council's field behind the estate.

The new houses are planned to be ready for council tenants in just over a year's time, by June 2026.

The delivery date was confirmed at the January 2025 council meeting. 

View of Radharc Darach construction site from the Ballyfin Road.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley welcomed the start of works.

"I am delighted to see work there with an expected delivery of quarter two, 2026. It is up and running at least," she said.

The plan began 12 years ago, but was hit with multiple setbacks. 

The privately built Hepburn Court was bought out house by house by Laois County Council, after it was so badly vandalised that it was abandoned and blocked up. The council had to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to force some owners to sell the damaged houses.

In 2013, Michael Rainey, now the Laois County Council CEO, was the Portlaoise Town Manager.

He described a "long, slow road ahead" to resolve difficulties in Hepburn Court, speaking after council crews blocked off the derelict houses there. 

Contractor Cleary Doyle was appointed by Clúid as the contractor and Clúid say they are using timber frame construction to deliver the 54 "high-quality, secure, affordable homes for individuals and families in housing need in Laois County Council’s catchment area".

They will include eight 2 bedroom bungalows and 46 2 bedroom two-storey houses. Unlike council owned houses, tenants will never be able to own the homes as housing bodies remain permanent owners.