Five bedroom Laois council house to replace burnt and demolished home

The demolished site of Number 13 Lakeglen and damaged home in number 14. Photo: Leinster Express

placeholder image — The demolished site of Number 13 Lakeglen and damaged home in number 14. Photo: Leinster Express

Portlaoise house burned down in a fire two years ago to be rebuilt

The next stage is starting on a slow road to rebuild a Laois council house that was destroyed in a fire two years ago.

Number 13 Lakeglen in Portlaoise was burned down in a fire in August 2022. It was demolished by a contractor for Laois County Council in 2024.

It will be replaced with a larger five bedroom two storey house.

The adjoining property, number 14 Lakeglen, damaged by the fire also had to be abandoned by its tenants. It will be reconstructed as a 94sqm three bedroom home.

Both will then be rented out to council tenants.

A Garda investigation was launched at the time into the cause of the fire.

The delay to demolish and reconstruct the houses has been criticised by Sinn Féin Portlaoise MD Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, who described the ruins as "an eyesore".

The site had also become an attraction for rats and illegal dumping before it was boarded off following demolition.

Now both homes are finally at the planning application stage by Laois County Council.

It will seek a Part 8 planning approval from county councillors, to build replacements.

The site of Number 13 will see the construction of a 140sqm, five bedroom, two storey house. Number 14 will be reconstructed as a 94sqm three bedroom home.

The plans are available for the public to view until late August, online at www.laois.ie and in the council's planning office.

It will still be into 2025 before construction is likely to begin. Laois County Council intends to apply to the Department of House for Stage 2 of their approval - a pre-planning check on design and cost - in Autumn. Two more stages have to follow before the homes can be rebuilt. The next is to get a design approved and the final stage is to approve a chosen contractor's tender to build the homes.