Laois councillors agree rezoning to triple size of Portlaoise housing estate

Laois councillors have said yes to rezoning land in Portlaoise to allow another 202 new houses and a creche to be built in the Sand Wood private property development in Summerhill, but not all are in favour.

Laois property developer 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, which already has some 112 houses.

Phase 2 will have 86 four bedroom houses and six 2 bed sheltered housing units. Phase 3 is for a creche and 74 housing units, and Phase 4 will have 36 four bedroom two storey houses.

At their monthly meeting on December 15, councillors voted on each rezoning, with 15 to 16 of the 19 councillors saying yes to the Proposed material contravention of the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027 to allow for the developments.

Cllr Ollie Clooney abstained and others were absent from the vote.

Portlaoise Municipal District Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said she is “not opposed but was concerned at the amount of housing in one area given the lack of infrastructure”.

She said that the planned new 1,000 pupil Dunamaise College will add to the traffic congestion.

Cllr Ollie Clooney from the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District said it's “too many houses stuck in Portlaoise”.

“It's just not good enough, our little villages are dying, I want a complete change of plan,” he said.

Cllr Ben Brennan from the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District agreed.

"Small villages are dying and fast. I know a school in our parish with 12 kids. It's not looking good for the future of clubs and parishes. I think Portlaoise is way overpopulated. They are going to other schools because they have no room in their schools." he said.

Cllr Paddy Buggy said density is so high for houses costing up to €500,000 where “you'd barely fit a barbecue in your back garden”.

He gave a striking farm analogy.

"When you have hens confined to a small space, they'll pick on the smallest and kill it. You don't see that in free range hens. People need space. We forget people have to live in these houses, to rear a family, to kick a ball. If you kick a ball now you could break a neighbour's window," he said.

Director for planning Angela McEvoy said that the council will rezone land in “all towns and villages” next year for property developers.

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She said the decision being put to the local representatives was not one of density, which is set by the Department of Housing, but of rezoning the land in question from Strategic Reserve, to residential.