Laois council on new land hunt for housing

Laois County Council is on the hunt for sites in the county for new homes and is targeting three main towns for social housing.

The local authority has invited builders and landowners to contact them with land that could accommodate up to 40 houses in the big towns. 

"Laois County Council is seeking expressions of interest from developers and landowners for the purchase of land for social housing purposes in the following areas across the county," it says in a public notice.

The council says that, in particular, it wants to locate sites in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick.

The notice also also says County Hall will also welcome offers from other towns and villages in Laois where there is a housing need.

The proposed land should ideally suit the size of the town or village as follows:

• Towns and villages with populations up to 1,000:- Scheme size up to 20 houses
• Towns and villages with populations greater than 1,000 up to 5,000:- Scheme size up to 30 houses
• Towns and villages with populations greater than 5,000:- Scheme size up to 40 houses

The Council is interested in proposals on greenfield and brownfield sites. It says the property must be close to services in a town or village, ideally within one mile (1.6km) from shops, schools and local amenities.

Landowners or developers, interested will be asked to complete the expressions of interest providing details including asking price, acreage of land, sizes of houses, ownership, date available and location map.

The local authority says it is not obliged to purchase any land submitted. It adds that land purchases are subject to the approval of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Council says it may also source land by directly approaching property owners, estate agents, online property websites and by other appropriate means.