Planning permission has been awarded for a major new project in Portlaoise at Summerhill and Aghnaharna, near Holy Family National School at a total site area of 3.39 hectares.
Laois County Council gave Bircrest Limited the green light for the development, after initially announcing the project at the Council’s monthly meeting in March.
The development will see the provision of 67 homes, including 57 houses and ten apartments. These break down as follows:
- Five three-storey, five-bed, detached houses;
- Three two-storey, four-bed, semi-detached corner houses;
- 29 two-storey, four-bed, semi-detached houses;
- 20 two-storey, four-bed, edge-house t-shape houses;
- Five three-storey duplexes comprising of five two-bed units and five three-bed units.
A two-storey Neighbourhood Centre will also be constructed, comprising a retail unit, a creche, office floorspace, refuse storage and cycle storage.
The development will comprise of active travel infrastructure improvements, including new shared pedestrian and cycle areas on the southern side of the Southern Circular Road and Aghnaharna Drive.
This will include crossing facilities and a two-way cycle track with the adjoining footpath along the eastern boundary, which transitions to a shared facility to the north approaching the O’Kelly roundabout, and continues on the southern side of Aghnaharna Drive.
Wastewater will be pumped via a rising main to discharge into the existing public wastewater sewer to the north-east at the O’Kelly roundabout.
Potable water supply will be provided through a new connection to the existing 400mm public watermain on Aghnaharna Drive.
The development will also include a new Link Road through the site via O’Devoy roundabout; roof plant at the Neighbourhood Centre; car parking spaces; public open space; boundary treatments; hard and soft landscaping; sub-stations; and lighting.
New ESB training building in Portlaoise
Elsewhere, the ESB have been awarded planning permission to construct a two-storey building within their existing training campus on the Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise.
The project is for the provision of nine classrooms, canteen, office, and toilets, with a total floorspace of 1,035 square metres.
53 additional car parking spaces will be installed, along with bicycle spaces, footpaths, and lighting poles.
The proposed development will be accessed off the existing access from the N77 Abbeyleix Road.
New car park for Portlaoise Hospital
Laois County Council have also awarded the HSE planning permission to construct a temporary car park for Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.
The car park will accommodate 106 parking spaces together on Block Road, to the Southwest of the Hospital, accessed through the existing access road off Block Road.
The proposed car park is within the grounds of St Fintan’s Healthcare Campus, which is listed as a Protected Structure RPS 179 in the current Laois County Development Plan.
SEE ALSO – Arts grants awarded to 25 groups and individuals across Laois
