Laois County Council refuses permission for 67-home scheme at Summerhill Portlaoise Co. Laois, Co. Laois

In context

It is one of 55 housing scheme applications Laois County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,573 nationally. Of the 3,037 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 79% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 15 June 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Laois County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

amend permission of the permitted Neighbourhood Centre building granted under LCC Reg. Ref. 23/60348, as amended under LCC Reg. Ref. 25/60040, (now known as ‘Sand Wood’). The site is generally bound to the north by Aghnaharna Drive, to the east by Holy Family School Road, and to the west and south by undeveloped lands and a residential development currently under construction, granted under LCC Reg. Ref. 23/60350 (also known as ‘Sand Wood’). No amendments are proposed to the permitted 67 No. residential units. The development will principally consist of: the change of use of the permitted creche and cycle store to a retail unit; the subdivision and part change of use of the permitted retail unit to a medical centre, retail unit, a refuse store and ESB switchroom; provision of a mezzanine level (c. 139 sq m) above first floor level within the southern extent of the Neighbourhood Centre building to provide additional office floor space; rationalisation of the ground and first floor layouts of the Neighbourhood Centre building and modifications to the footprint of the building, increasing the floor area by c. 57 sq m. The development will result in an overall increase in floor area of the Neighbourhood Centre building by c. 196 sq m, from 1,426 sq m to c. 1,622 sq m. The development also proposes: the provision of 3 No. additional car parking spaces; minor cycle & car parking layout changes; landscaping; boundary treatments; and all other associated site works above and below ground.