Developer planning over 200 new homes in Portlaoise

Artist image of the Sand Wood estate built by Bircrest in Summerhill. Image: 3D Design Bureau

placeholder image — Artist image of the Sand Wood estate built by Bircrest in Summerhill. Image: 3D Design Bureau

Laois County Council will decide on alteration of County Development Plan

A decision is about to be taken by Laois County Councillors that may see the approval of over 200 new homes in a Portlaoise bundle of schemes by the same developer.

Laois property developers Bircrest Ltd is awaiting approval from planners for three applications totalling 202 homes, phases 2, 3 and 4 of the Sand Wood estate in Summerhill, near most of Portlaoise's primary schools.

The first is for 86 four bedroom houses, both one and two storey, and six 2 bedroom sheltered housing units, at Summerhill. It is Phase 2 of the Sand Wood estate with 112 homes already built.

The second is for a creche and 74 housing units in Summerhill, as Phase 3 of the Sand Wood development.

Bircrest's third plan is for 36 four bedroom two storey houses, again in Summerhill and Phase 4 of Sand Wood.

However ahead of a planning decision, councillors are to consider a "Proposed material contravention of the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027 to allow for the developments, at their December meeting on Monday, December 15.

They must decide whether to rezone the lands so that planners can decide on the housing applications.