Observation pack · Laois County Council
Dunnes Filling Stations , Abbeyleix Road , Portlaoise
Retain automatic car wash and for relocation of water, air, and hoover units and planning permission to construct single storey building for Deposit Return facility and all associated site works
Observations close 8 Dec 2026 25 days left
5 weeks from receipt (received 3 Nov 2026) · s.34 Planning and Development Act 2000 · art. 29 Regulations 2001 · fee €20 · council decision due 6 Jan 2027
The application
- Reference
- 2660790 · full record
- Authority
- Laois County Council
- Type
- RETENTION
- Status
- NEW APPLICATION
- Site area
- 3,036 m²
- Received
- 3 Nov 2026
- Decision due
- 6 Jan 2027
How to submit an observation
- Read the file on the council register.Drawings, planning statement and site notices are at http://www.eplanning.ie/LaoisCC/AppFileRefDetails/2660790/0.
- Write your observation.Quote
2660790at the top, give your name and the address the authority should reply to, and confine it to planning matters — zoning objective, height, overlooking, traffic, drainage, heritage. What you say here is what you can later appeal on. - Pay the €20 fee.Every submission needs it; without it the observation is invalid and is returned. Laois County Council takes it online with the submission or at the counter.
- Submit before 8 Dec 2026.Online through the register above, or in writing to the Planning Department, Laois County Council. The test is the date the authority receives it, not the date you post it.
- Keep the acknowledgement.The council's receipt is your proof of a valid observation — see below.
Statutory basis. Section 34(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) requires a planning authority to consider any submission or observation made to it in accordance with the Regulations. Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) sets the window: a submission or observation must be received by the authority within five weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the application, and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of €20. A submission received after the window, or without the fee, is invalid and the authority must return it.
After you submit: keep the acknowledgement. Under the 2024 Act it secures your right to appeal — only the applicant and a person who made a valid observation may bring the council's decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, within four weeks of the decision. Making a valid observation is also what buys a right of appeal: under s.37(1) of the 2000 Act, only the applicant and a person who made a valid submission or observation to the planning authority may appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála (within four weeks of the decision). Missing the five-week window closes both doors.
What the site is zoned
| Code | Objective | Plan | In force |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1.1 Retail warehousing | General Business: To provide for and improve commercial activities | laois county development plan 2021 2027 | 8 Mar 2022 → 7 Mar 2028 |
| G4 Open space | Open Space and Amenity: To preserve, provide for and improve active and passive recreational public and private open space. | laois county development plan 2021 2027 | 8 Mar 2022 → 7 Mar 2028 |
| R2 Existing residential | Residential 1 - Existing Residential: To protect and enhance the amenity of developed residential communities. | laois county development plan 2021 2027 | 8 Mar 2022 → 7 Mar 2028 |
| C3 High technology | General Business: To provide for and improve commercial activities | laois county development plan 2021 2027 including ministerial direction as varied by variation no 1 no 2 and no 3 | 8 Mar 2022 → 7 Mar 2028 |
| G4 Open space | Open Space/Amenity: To preserve, provide for and improve active and passive recreational public and private open space. | laois county development plan 2021 2027 including ministerial direction as varied by variation no 1 no 2 and no 3 | 8 Mar 2022 → 7 Mar 2028 |
| R2 Existing residential | Residential 1 - Existing Residential: To protect and enhance the amenity of developed residential communities. | laois county development plan 2021 2027 including ministerial direction as varied by variation no 1 no 2 and no 3 | 8 Mar 2022 → 7 Mar 2028 |
An application that accords with the zoning objective is hard to resist on principle; one that does not may be a material contravention, which the council can only grant by the s.34(6) procedure with its own notice and window.
Source: Laois County Council development plan zoning · fetched 4 Oct 2026, 23:04
| Source | Licence | Fetched | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laois County Council development plan zoning | — | 4 Oct 2026, 23:04 | open |
Nearby precedents within 500 m, last 5 years
Decisions
| Reference | Decision | Decided | Distance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2560147 | Conditional | 30 Sept 2025 | 375 m | for works associated with the proposed uprate of the existing 110 kV Overhead Line (OHL) between the existing Cushaling 110 kV substation in the townland of Ballykilleen, Co. Offaly & the existing Portlaoise 110 kV substation in the townlands of Clonminam & Kylekiproe, Co. Laois. The replacement (“restringing”) of the existing overhead line circuit conductor with a new higher capacity conductor incl. installation of a new fibre communication connection; Replacement of 8 no. steel towers & their foundations; Replacement of steel members at 1 no. tower; Full tower painting required at 3 no. locations; Shear block remedial works (raise & cap) at 6 no. tower locations; Replacement of wooden poles only at 15 no. locations; Replacement of wooden poles & crossarm at 5 no. locations; Replacement of crossarm only at 14 no. locations; Replacement of existing danger notices at various locations, as required; Replacement of hardware and fittings, such as insulators, insulator hardware, earthwire hardware and anti-climbing guards at various locations as required; Replacement of suspension clamps, vibrations dampers and compression assemblies at all locations as required; All associates temporary site development works to gain access to the existing structures including clearance of vegetation, disassembly & reassembly of gate posts/piers & removal & re instatement of existing fencing; other temporary associated & ancillary development works required for the purpose of the existing circuit, including temporary items, such as; guard poles, construction compounds (located in the townlands of Bracklone, Tullaghan, Morett, Clonaddodoran and Kyletalesha), clearance or management of vegetation, installation of silt traps, silt fences, stone tracks, ground protections mats & watercourse crossings. No additional structures are proposed along the existing circuit. Structure 203,which will be relocated approx. 101m back towards structure 202 due to its existing position on top of a gravel mound & there being potential for subsidence of the gravel in the long term. No alteration to the nature, extent, alignment, character, or voltage of the existing electricity infrastructure is proposed. In addition, works to support this uprate also include the Cushlaing-Portlaoise 110KV bay lead-in conductor uprate at the Portlaoise 110KV station. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been submitted with this application. Full description of all works within Site Notice. |
| 2560302 | Conditional | 2 Sept 2025 | 375 m | for works associated with the proposed uprate of the existing 110 kV Overhead Line (OHL) between the existing Cushaling 110 kV substation in the townland of Ballykilleen, Co. Offaly and the existing Portlaoise 110 kV substation in the townlands of Clonminam and Kylekiproe, Co. Laois. The Cushaling – Portlaoise 110 kV OHL is approximately 41.6 km long and comprises 17 no. steel lattice tower structures and 193 no. wooden pole structures. The existing circuit is located across the functional areas of Offaly County Council (OCC), Kildare County Council (KCC) and Laois County Council (LCC). Approximately 10 km of the existing OHL circuit is located within the functional area of OCC, approximately 9 km is within the functional area of KCC and approximately 22.6 km is located within the functional area of LCC. Separate planning applications are being lodged with each respective County Council. The Proposed Development across the functional area of Co. Kildare is located in the townlands of Coolelan, Kiltaghan North, Kiltaghan South, Clonmoyle West, Ummeras More, Mountrice, Mullaghroe Upper, Mullaghroe Lower, Coolatogher, Coolsickin or Quinsborough and Coolnafearagh. The Proposed Development works across the functional area of Co. Kildare will comprise: 1. The replacement (“restringing”) of the existing overhead line circuit conductor with a new higher capacity conductor including installation of a new fibre communication connection; 2. The replacement of 2 no. steel towers and their foundations; 3. The replacement of steel members at 1 no. tower; 4. Full tower painting required at 1 no. location; 5. Shear block remedial works (raise and cap) at 1 no. tower location; 6. The replacement of wooden poles only at 8 no. locations; 7. The replacement of wooden poles and crossarm at 3 no. locations; 8. The replacement of crossarm only at 4 no. locations; 9. The replacement of existing danger notices at various locations, as required; 10. The replacement of hardware and fittings, such as insulators, insulator hardware, earthwire hardware and anti-climbing guards at various locations, as required; 11. The replacement of suspension clamps, vibration dampers and compression assemblies at all locations, as required; 12. All associated temporary site development works to gain access to the existing structures including clearance of vegetation, disassembly and reassembly of gate posts/piers and removal and reinstatement of existing fencing; and 13. Other temporary associated |
| 2560301 | Conditional | 7 Jul 2025 | 334 m | construct a spectator stand with terraced viewing area adjacent to Pitch 01 and all associated site works to complete the development. |
| 2560179 | Conditional | 29 May 2025 | 244 m | relocate 102 no. car parking spaces, with provision for lighting, car chargers and associated fencing, underground cabling and associated site works. The proposed development will be accessed off the existing access from the N77. Planning permission is being sought for a period of 5 years. |
| 2460657 | Conditional | 20 Dec 2024 | 129 m | Change of use of unit G6 / G7 from Retail space to a Pilates Studio to include administration space, storage space and all associated signage at unit G6/G7, Parkside Shopping Center, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. |
| 2460415 | Conditional | 5 Sept 2024 | 235 m | change the use of floors at plaza level to 4th floor within the existing Block A building to provide for 10no. apartments and associated works. Particulars of the development will comprise as follows: •The provision of 5no. 2bed apartments & 5no. 3bed apartments. •The provision of associated internal works and elevational works. •Provision of associated communal space and landscaping works at plaza level. •Provision of associated bin storage building at plaza level. •Utilising the existing basement for car and bicycle parking and provision of bulky storage area for proposed apartments. •All ancillary site development works. |
| 2460322 | Conditional | 30 Jul 2024 | 0 m | retain development consisting of a shed containing car wash equipment, the oil tank behind it and signage fixed to the front wall of the shed and all associated site works |
| 2460201 | Conditional | 27 Jun 2024 | 129 m | change use and material alterations of previously permitted office use at Units F8A and F9 and associated circulation corridor to form a new 662m2 amalgamated medical clinic including associated ancillary staff, patient, and administration areas. Minor external alterations include a new glazed external door and overhead external wall vents to the east elevation of Unit F9, external signage to the north elevation of Unit F9, and overhead external wall vents to the west (rear) elevation of Unit F8A. The development will be served by the existing car parking and new cycle parking for 20 bicycles. |
Appeals
| ACP case | Type | Outcome | Decided | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500151 | Granted | 25 Feb 2026 | 375 m | |
| 318799 | Granted with conditions | 9 Jan 2025 | 315 m | |
| 320982 | Invalid | 2 Oct 2024 | 235 m | |
| 316799 | Other | 8 Sept 2023 | 471 m |
If neighbours here have appealed before and lost, the inspector's report on that case is the single most useful thing to read.
What has happened on this file
- 3 Nov 2026 New application · observations close 8 Dec 2026
- 3 Nov 2026 Decision
Generated from the Planning Register store; nothing was fetched live for this page. Source: national planning dataset, fetched 11 Nov 2026, 23:00. Not legal advice — confirm the deadline with Laois County Council before relying on it.