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Infrastructure › Laois

Can it be built in Laois?

Water, electricity, planning and housing starts in Laois, from the operators' own registers.

In Laois, 6 of 29 settlements have no spare wastewater capacity and 2 have limited capacity; 5 of 8 substations show no spare demand capacity; 659 homes were started in the past 12 months (7.2 per 1,000 people).

6th of 26 by share of settlements at red3rd of 26 by share of constrained substations5th of 26 by homes started per 1,000 people

Wastewater capacity

SettlementPlantCapacityUpgrade
ArlessArless WWTPRed
BallinakillBallinakill WWTPRed
Borris-in-OssoryBorris‐in‐Ossory WWTPRedYes
Newtown DoonaneNewtown Doonane WWTPRed
SwanSwan WWTPRed
TimahoeTimahoe WWTPRed
ClonasleeClonaslee WWTPAmber
MountmellickMountmellick WWTPAmber
AbbeyleixAbbeyleix WWTPGreen
BallacollaBallacolla WWTPGreen
BallybrittasBallybrittas WWTPGreen
BallylinanBallylinan WWTPGreen
BallyroanBallyroan WWTPGreenYes
CamrossCamross WWTPGreen
CapalugCapalug WWTPGreen
CastletownCastletown (Laois) WWTPGreen
CloughClough WWTPGreen
CoolanaghCoolanagh WWTPGreen
CoolrainCoolrain WWTPGreen
DurrowDurrow WWTPGreen
EmoEmo WWTPGreen
ErrillErrill WWTPGreen
KileenKileen WWTPGreen
MountrathMountrath WWTPGreen
PortarlingtonPortarlington WWTPGreen
PortlaoisePortlaoise WWTPGreenYes
RathdowneyRathdowney WWTPGreen
RosenallisRosenallis WWTPGreen
StradballyStradbally (Laois) WWTPGreen

Electricity substations

Northern IrelandCarlowCavanClareCorkDonegalDublinGalwayKerryKildareKilkennyLaoisLeitrimLimerickLongfordLouthMayoMeathMonaghanOffalyRoscommonSligoTipperaryWaterfordWestmeathWexfordWicklowMOUNTMELLICK (387000) 38 kV STATION: no spare demand capacityMOUNTRATH (388000) 38 kV STATION: no spare demand capacityPALLAS (559000) 38 kV STATION: no spare demand capacityPORTLAOISE (201000) 110 kV STATION: no spare demand capacityRATHDOWNEY (391000) 38 kV STATION: no spare demand capacityABBEYLEIX (565000) 38 kV STATION: 1.1 MVA availablePORTLAOISE (201000) 110 kV STATION: 5.5 MVA availablePORTLAOISE (201000) 110 kV STATION: 23.7 MVA available
Spare demand capacityNone
SubstationClassDemand MVAGen MW
MOUNTMELLICK (387000) 38 kV STATIONMV0.05.4
MOUNTRATH (388000) 38 kV STATIONMV0.05.4
PALLAS (559000) 38 kV STATIONMV0.05.7
PORTLAOISE (201000) 110 kV STATIONMV0.013.4
RATHDOWNEY (391000) 38 kV STATIONMV0.00.0
ABBEYLEIX (565000) 38 kV STATIONMV1.12.7
PORTLAOISE (201000) 110 kV STATIONMV5.511.9
PORTLAOISE (201000) 110 kV STATION38 kV23.713.4

Planning

Applications lodged in Laois, data to 30 Oct 2026. Median decision time 55 days.

02505007501k2021: 16016020212022: 79079020222023: 82182120232024: 92492420242025: 99499420252026: 8438432026

By town (within ~3 km)

Large schemes (50+ homes)

74 homes · Canal Road , Portarlington , Co. LaoisPending

construct a 74 unit Residential Development, consisting of 6 No. Type A/ A1 two storey semi-detached 4 bedroom houses, 6 No. Type B two storey semi-detached 4 bedroom houses, 12 No. Type C/ C1 two storey terraced 3 bedroom houses, 20 no. Type D/ D1 two storey terraced 3 bedroom houses, 2 No. Type E/ E1 two storey semi-detached 5 bedroom houses and 2 no. three storey Apartment blocks with 28 no. ap

ref 2660387 · lodged 19 Jun 2026 · council file
174 homes · Dargan Woods , Borris Road , Portlaoise Co. LaoisGranted

construct a Large Scale Residential Development at this site: Dargan Woods, Borris Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. The development will consist of: the provision of 174 no. residential house and apartment units and a creche facility on a site of 5.74ha. The site is generally greenfield land. The southern boundary is adjoined by Maryborough Crescent estate. Ashley Gardens, Colliers Wood and Hawthorn D

ref 2660255 · lodged 5 May 2026 · council file
86 homes · Colliers Lane Ballyroan (townland) , Portlaoise , Co. LaoisGranted

construct 88 no. residential units and all associated site development works including footpaths, parking, boundary treatments, drainage, bicycle and bin stores and landscaping/amenity areas at Colliers Lane, Ballyroan (townland), Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Site clearance works include the removal of walls and pavement associated with the decommissioned wastewater pumping station on the eastern bounda

ref 2660112 · lodged 2 Mar 2026 · council file
76 homes · Lands located between Harpur’s Lane and Mountrath Road (former Centrepoint Shopping Centre) , Maryborough Portlaoise , Co. LaoisGranted

carry out development which will consist of: A proposed residential and commercial development on a brownfield site of 4.96 hectares to include the construction of 217 no. single to four storey residential units; 2 No. mixed use three storey commercial buildings to accommodate a creche, ground floor retail units, restaurant, and office space; a new roads layout with two new vehicular entrances off

ref 2660008 · lodged 7 Jan 2026 · council file
74 homes · A c. 4.15 Ha site at Summerhill , Portlaoise , Co. LaoisGranted

construct a creche (c. 961 sq m) and 74 No. residential dwellings comprising 64 No. 4-bed houses and 4 No. 1-bed and 6 No. 2-bed sheltered housing units. The proposed development will be 1 No. and 2 No. storeys in height. The development will also include: minor amendments to the landscape and boundary treatment to the south of the Phase 1A site to provide car parking and access to the proposed cr

ref 2560386 · lodged 30 Jun 2025 · council file
92 homes · A c. 3.85 Ha site at Summerhill , Portlaoise , Co. LaoisGranted

construct 92 No. residential dwellings comprising 86 No. 4-bed houses and 6 No. 2-bed sheltered housing units. The proposed development will be 1 No. and 2 No. storeys in height. The development will also include: minor amendments to the Link Road permitted as part of Phases 1A & 1B and its continuation through the Phase 2 site; minor amendments to the landscape and boundary treatment to the south

ref 2560385 · lodged 30 Jun 2025 · council file
71 homes · N80 Mountmellick Road Maryborough , Portlaoise , Co. LaoisGranted

Construct of 74 no. residential dwellings, comprising of 24 no. Duplexes, consisting of 12 no. two-bed units and 12 no. three-bed units over three storeys and 50 no. Apartments and Houses, consisting of 12 no. one-bed apartments, 10 no. two-bed apartments, 7 no. two-bed houses and 21 no. three-bed houses. All Apartments and Houses are two storeys. The development will also include the provision of

ref 2560293 · lodged 14 May 2025 · council file
97 homes · A site at Bishopswood Road , Portarlington , Co. LaoisGranted

amend the design and layout of the development permitted under Laois County Council Reg. Ref. 19/432 (as amended by Laois County Council Reg. Ref. 24/46) comprising: A reduction in site area from 4.01 to 3.91 hectares to facilitate an increase to the size of the creche reservation area adjoining the site from 796 sq m to 982 sq m and the exclusion of the creche from the site area; modifications to

ref 2560255 · lodged 29 Apr 2025 · council file
98 homes · Meadows Fort , Crossneen Graiguecullen Carlow Environs , Co. LaoisGranted

construct (a) 98 no. two-storey semi-detached dwellings which will consist of the following unit mix: 10no. 4-bed dwellings, 76no. 3-bed dwellings, and 12no. 2-bed dwellings, (b) Provision of new internal roadways and footpaths by extension of the proposed residential access road from Meadows Way and a possible link with Meadows Fort the subject of a concurrent planning application (Pl. Ref: 25/60

ref 2560241 · lodged 24 Apr 2025 · council file
98 homes · Meadows Fort , Crossneen Graiguecullen Carlow Environs , Co. LaoisGranted

carry out development which will consist of: (a) The provision of 98no. two-storey semi-detached dwellings consisting of the following unit mix: 8no. 4-bed dwellings, 82no. 3-bed dwellings, and 8no. 2-bed dwellings, (b) Provision of new internal roadways and footpaths by extension of the existing residential access road from Meadows Way, with associated works to facilitate vehicular, pedestrian an

ref 2560210 · lodged 15 Apr 2025 · council file
90 homes · Leighlin Road , Crossneen Carlow , Co. Laois.Granted

make alterations to a granted permission reference P23.3 at Crossneen, Carlow, Co. Laois. Alterations to provide for a partial revised layout to accommodate 2 No. Type C1 – four bedroom two storey semi-detached dwellings, plus 4 No. blocks Type D – each block containing 2 No. two bedroom two storey townhouses plus 2 No. two bedroom own door access apartments plus all landscaping and site enclosure

ref 2460700 · lodged 19 Nov 2024 · council file

Housing starts

0200400600800Oct 2021Oct 2022Oct 2023Oct 2024Oct 2025Sep 202646

Public projects in Laois

ProjectStageCostDepartment
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Colaiste Mhuire Carlow, Knockbeg - 61130H5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Department of Education
Portlaoise - A Low Carbon Town4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Libraries Capital Programme - Portlaoise Library5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Emo Court4. Implementation–Office of Public Works
Presentation Convent & Lands, Portlaoise,4. Implementation–Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Corrig Glen, Station Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
St Vincent's Hospital, Mountmellick - Phase 14. Implementation–Department of Health
Heritage Led Regeneration of Portarlington Market House and Square4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise Placemaking for a low carbon town2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Laois County Council
Borris-in-Ossory - Removal of Dereliction5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Durrow Community Enterprise Hub2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Laois County Council
Portlaoise MRH4. Implementation–Department of Health
Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Office of Public Works
Portlaoise Primary Care Centre1. Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case–Department of Health
St. Fintan's Portlaoise ECC Hub1. Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case–Department of Health
Portlaoise MRH Fire Safety3. Post – Tender - Final Business Case–Department of Health
Kolbe Special School, Portlaoise 20100P4. Implementation–Department of Education
Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise 63451O5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Department of Education
St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise 63430G5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Department of Education
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - New Street to River Triogue4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Convent Urban Garden4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Work to the Hapenny School2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Access platform on old turrett3. Post – Tender - Final Business Case–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Interpretive Audio Visual Space (Formerly demo of store/shed)3. Post – Tender - Final Business Case–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - New County Library5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Refurbishment of Schoil Mhuire5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Railway Street Mobility Hub (Previously "Car & Bicycle Park CBS Lands")5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Fort Protector Phase 15. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Fort Protector Phase 25. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Old St. Peters Graveyard & Churchtower5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Outdoor Performance & Event Space (Formerly sch. Mhuire Car Park)5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Cultural Quarter - Public Realm Alterations for Outdoor Performance & Event Space5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Low Carbon Town - Solar Compactor Bins5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Low Carbon Town - Park & Stride Feasibility Study5. Post Completion Review and Benefits Realisation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Low Carbon Town - Triogue Blueway4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Low Carbon Town - Portlaoise Cycle Route Extension4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Low Carbon Town - EV Charging Points (30 no.)4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise - A Low Carbon Town - Low Energy Lighting Upgrade4. Implementation–Laois County Council
Portlaoise Placemaking for a low carbon town - Cultural Quarter connection to Main St and Portlaoise2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Laois County Council
Portlaoise Placemaking for a low carbon town - Market Square-Main Street2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Laois County Council
Portlaoise Placemaking for a low carbon town - James Fintan Lalor Avenue and associated works2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Laois County Council
Redevelopment of Derelict Courthouse (Heritage Building) into a Community and Enterprise Hub2. Pre- Tender - Project Design. Planning and Procurement Strategy–Laois County Council
Portlaoise Wastewater Treatment Plant3. Post – Tender - Final Business Case–Uisce Éireann

Keep exploring

Sources: Uisce Éireann capacity registers; ESB Networks capacity heatmap; National Planning Application Database; DHLGH commencement notices; NDP construction pipeline. Registers are indicative, not connection offers.