Landmark Laois housing project sees Portlaoise spend hit €50 million

Work starts on project in the heart of Portlaoise.

placeholder image — Work starts on project in the heart of Portlaoise.

Laois County Council CEO welcomes the start of a social housing project in heart of town

The start of a new €26 million housing project in Portlaoise brings to €50 million invested in the town in six years, a commitment described by Laois County Council's Chief Executive as a 'vote of confidence' in the town.

Mr John Mulholland, who is set to retire this summer, commented on the Sophia Housing development which began in late February on Church Avenue.

Construction workers moved onto the grounds of the old convent and former parish church to carry out clearance work to pave the way for work on a €26 million social housing project.

Parts of the existing brownfield site have to be cleared as have the landmarks buildings which will be converted to housing.

It’s nearly eight years since Laois County Council and Sophia Housing sought funding for the project which will see 48 apartments and four houses built for people on the Council’s housing list. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

It includes several community spaces and a new public parkland bordering the River Triogue, a plaza and vegetable allotments, on the site of the former Presentation Convent and old Sacred Heart School.

New apartments are due to be built on the site of the former church with the existing buildings being retained and converted.

There is also a plan to reuse the old 'Ha'penny School' on Church Avenue, opening it up onto the street to create a tourism hub.

Laois County Council has played a key role in advancing the project. Mr Mulholland welcomed the work as part of the latest phase of investment in the town centre.

“The commencement of work by Sophia on the Convent site is yet another very welcome and necessary step in the ongoing regeneration of Portlaoise town centre.

“In addition to providing 52 homes to people who may not otherwise have had an opportunity to avail of good quality accommodation, this landmark project also delivers a heritage and public realm dividend reflecting on the often-undocumented origins of our County Town.

“With the support of the Urban Regeneration Development Fund and the “Housing for All” programme Laois County Council is delighted to be central to planning and development of a steady stream of high-value Town Centre projects in recent years.

“It is noteworthy that regeneration projects, once considered out of reach, are now taking shape and being delivered in relatively quick succession.

“Amongst these are Fitzmaurice Place, the Laois School of Music at the old Scoil Mhuire, the new outdoor performance area in the Fort Protector, the new County Library, the Cube at Tower Hill and the new car park and 67 home development beside Portlaoise railway station.

“In this regard the investment since 2018 hovers around the €50 million mark representing a real vote of confidence in Portlaoise under the National Development Plan. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

“All in all, therefore, it's an exceptionally positive story for the core of Portlaoise and I wish every success to Sophia and their contractors in progressing the Convent project, he said.

Councillors were told last December that construction would take two years with completion by the start of 2026. The project was first announced in 2018 but was delayed by Covid-19 and also a rise in construction costs.

Sophia has similar plans for the former Convent in Portarlington on the Offaly side of the town.