Housing development proposed on site behind pub in Laois town

Seven homes are proposed for the back of the Hawthorn pub in Portarlington

Published 17th Aug 2026, 20:30 BST The Hawthorn pub on Patrick Street in Portarlington. Seven homes are proposed for the back of the Hawthorn pub in Portarlington Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

A small housing development has been proposed for a site at the back of a pub in Portarlington .

Ann and Michael O’Brien have applied for planning permission to Offaly County Council for the construction of seven homes at the back of The Hawthorn pub on Patrick Street in Portarlington.

The Hawthorn, located just beyond the Laois border and into Offaly, has been owned by the O’Brien family since 1972.

The owners of the pub are now looking to build seven houses on the 0.25 hectare site behind The Hawthorn.

The proposal consists of seven family homes arranged as two semi-detached blocks and one terrace block.

The development would provide four four-bedroom semi-detached homes, two three-bedroom homes, and one two-bedroom home.

The site is accessed from Patrick Street and is surrounded by a mix of residential and commercial buildings. St Patrick’s NS is also located just down the street.

Green light for construction of 24-hour car wash in Laois The planning documents submitted with the application state that all homes in the development would have “substantial private rear gardens.”

The layout of the site also includes 14 car parking spaces which equates to two spaces per home.

The existing natural stone boundary walls are described as an “important character feature” and so they will be retained where practicable.

The applicants argued: “It makes efficient use of serviced land, provides a varied mix of family housing, maintains a modest two-storey scale and incorporates a central communal green area that is well overlooked and integrated into the layout.

“The development will make a positive contribution to the continued consolidation and sustainable growth of Portarlington by delivering high-quality homes in an established location while respecting neighbouring residential amenity, local built character and the existing landscape structure of the site.”

Offaly County Council are due to make their decision on the application by October 4.