Laois County Council running out of housing land especially in Portlaoise

Laois County Council is running out of land to build social houses, especially in the highest demand area of Portlaoise.

In a special report to county councillors from housing officials this October, the stark shortages were outlined beyond 2027.

Housing official Trevor Hennessy listed what land they have left, which is enough for 92 houses. 

"Landbanks are a challenge and probably Portlaoise is the biggest challenge. We are actively looking but it is a challenge for us.

"These are lands that we acquired or CPO'd in the last year and a half. We'll hopefully get about 92 units on them. 

"We also have agreement in principal to purchase two further land banks, one in Borris and one in Portarlington. We're almost over the line with them.

"Land is a big issue for us. If there are any areas that you know of, please tell me about it," the housing official asked councillors.

"All those schemes you see on the ground over the last year or two or three are on land banks that we built up in the 80s and 90s. We are going to have to try and progress on that," he said.

Mr Hennessy added that there is no deadline for the council to buy landbanks.

"We are always looking for land," he said.

The council has lands to build 53 further social houses in Portlaoise, at Green Mill Lane, Triogue Manor and Old Knockmay Road.

It has land for 32 houses on three sites in Mountmellick, on Lord Edward Street, in Smiths Field and on Emmett Terrace.

A further four homes are planned at the Old School in Ballyroan, and three in Bracklone Street, Portarlington.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald of the Portlaoise Municipal District said the shortage of land in Portlaoise is "a huge problem".

"The housing crisis is a national problem but we're certainly doing all we can in Laois. Landbanks is a huge problem, in the Portlaoise area we've spoken about this for years. It's going to be a huge issue. Anything we can do, especially with lands now about to be rezoned, we should really really try and get land, in all areas," she said. 

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley from the same district, suggested a site at Woodgrove Lawns.

"It wouldn't be a massive site but you would get a few houses built on it. If you do build on it, consider building affordable houses," she said. 

Taxes should be increased on landowners "sitting on land" says Cllr Aisling Moran of the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.

"We need to increase the taxes on landbanks and we need to CPO land quicker. There's a lot of builders and developers sitting on land banks knowing that if they hold onto it for another couple of years it's going to double or triple in price. They should be made build on it and if they're not, the council should CPO them," she said.

Meanwhile Cllr Ben Brennan also from the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District said the problem lies with no services being supplied on lands.

Read more: Laois council may start counting applicants it rejects for social housing

"The biggest problem in our area is we could get houses built but it's sewage. We're over capacity and Irish Water is not coming up to scratch. We can't go any further. We can get land and we need it in our area, but this is not down to the council, it's down to Irish Water. God help us all now because I feel they waste a lot of money. 

Laois County Council is on track to more than double the housing target set for Laois by the Government, delivering 646 new social houses between 2022 and 2026. They have cost some €365 million.