Eason, Bull Lane, Portlaoise Co. Laois
Change of use from a bookshop to a cafe on the ground floor, and a gym on the upper floors in Portlaoise.
2360199 · Laois County Council · Lodged 2 June 2023
- Reference
- 2360199
- Authority
- Laois County Council
- Register status
- Decided
- Type
- PERMISSION
- Received
- 2 June 2023
Summary
AI-generatedThe application proposes a change of use from a retail bookshop to a cafe on a section of the ground floor, which will also include gym changing rooms, toilets, and showers. The first and second floors will be converted for gym use with internal changes.
- Storeys
- 3
Generated from the description above by an AI model and may contain mistakes. The council’s description is the authoritative record.
Official record
Development description
For change of use from retail (bookshop) to cafe on section of ground floor with gym changing rooms, toilet and shower facilities, gym use to 1st and 2nd floor to include internal changes and associated site works.
Land-use zoning
What this land is zoned for
“To protect and enhance the special physical and social character of the existing town centre and to provide for and improve retailing and commercial activities”
National zoning type: City/Town/village Centre, central area
Objective set by the LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027 (2022–2028). The planning authority decides each application on its own merits — this is the zoning context, not a compliance assessment.
Read the zoning objectives in the development planBuilt & sold
What happened next
Beyond the decision: whether this development was built, and what property here has sold for.
Recent sales nearby
within 500 m| Address | Date | Price | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apt. 1 28 Church St, Portlaoise, County Laois | Apr 2026 | €123,333 | 66 m |
| Apt. 2 28 Church Street, Portlaoise, County Laois | Apr 2026 | €123,333 | 66 m |
| 56 Main St, Portlaoise, Laois | Sept 2025 | €110,000 | 83 m |
| The Mews, 9 Kellyville, Portlaoise | Jun 2026 | €215,000 | 89 m |
| Shrahanboy, Camross, Portlaoiseprice excludes VAT | Feb 2025 | €180,000 | 100 m |
| Cashel, Pike Of Rushall, Portlaoise | Feb 2025 | €370,000 | 100 m |
| Errill, Portlaoise, Co Laois | May 2025 | €130,000 | 100 m |
| 28 The Way, Belview Wood, Maryboroughprice excludes VAT | Jun 2025 | €308,370 | 100 m |
Nearby properties, not this site — a guide to local values.
Sources: Building Control Management System (commencement notices) and the Residential Property Price Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Records are matched to this application by location and may not be exhaustive; always confirm against the official source before relying on them.
Key dates
Timeline
- Application received2 June 2023
- Decision due27 July 2023
- Decision issued25 July 2023
- Grant issued28 August 2023
- Permission expiry27 August 2028
In the area
Applications near this site
Other planning applications within about 500 m — what else is being proposed or built nearby.
- Awaiting decision30 m away
Change use of the ground floor of 68 Main Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, from use as an off-licence to use as…
68 Main Street , Portlaoise , Co. Laois
18262LaoisLodged 30 Apr 2018Change of use
- Awaiting decision30 m away
Retain change use of the ground floor of 68 Main Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, from use as an off-licence to…
68 Main Street , Portlaoise , Co. Laois
18305LaoisLodged 21 May 2018Retention
- Awaiting decision30 m away
Change use of the ground floor of 68 Main Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, from use as an off-licence to use as…
68 Main Street , Portlaoise , Co. Laois
18233LaoisLodged 18 Apr 2018Change of use
- Granted30 m away
Retain change use of the ground floor of 68 Main Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, A Protected Structure, from…
68 Main Street , Portlaoise , Co. Laois
18400LaoisLodged 6 Jul 2018Retention
- Granted30 m away
Change of use of part of existing shop for use as a beer license fridge to sell beers and all associated site…
Bull Lane , Portlaoise , Co. Laois
17616LaoisLodged 20 Nov 2017Change of use
- Granted30 m away
(a) retain works carried out including installation of "hatch window" to replace window and door and…
63 Main Street , Portlaoise , Co. Laois
19427LaoisLodged 25 Jul 2019Retention
- Awaiting decision30 m away
Change use from retail unit to cafe and associated works
63 Main Street , Kylekiproe , Portlaoise
18434LaoisLodged 20 Jul 2018Change of use
- Granted30 m away
Change use from retail unit to café, installation of vent stack and alteration to existing elevation
63 Main Street , Portlaoise , Co. Laois
18479LaoisLodged 7 Aug 2018Change of use
Related developments
Similar applications
Ranked by what these developments actually propose, not by matching words — so you can see how comparable applications were decided.
- GrantedChange of use
Change of use of existing retail unit to a gym with small café area along with all associated site works
Blessington Business Park , Blessington , Co. Wicklow
21115WicklowLodged 9 Feb 2021
- GrantedChange of use
Permission for change of use of existing single storey building from gym to retail and café, sub-division…
13, Main Street, Raheny, Dublin 5.
3630/21Dublin CityLodged 5 Oct 2021
- Awaiting decision
A) Change of use of existing first floor restaurant/retail/offices (837.1sq.m), and storage/services on the…
Manor West Shopping Centre , Tralee , Co Kerry
2660499KerryLodged 4 Jun 2026
- GrantedAlterations
For alterations to the existing ground and first floor layouts to incorporate a café on the ground floor, gym…
Clonlara Community Sports & Leisure Centre , Clonlara , Co Clare V94VXD4
2460250ClareLodged 29 May 2024
- GrantedChange of use
The following works; -a change of use from existing retail Unit 2A to Gym (ground floor and first floor)…
Roxboro Shopping Centre , Roxborough Road , Roxborough Limerick.
2560959LimerickLodged 23 Sept 2025
- Awaiting decisionChange of use
Change of use from retail to coffee shop/café on the ground floor of the existing building, all associated…
Claregate Street , Kildare Town , Co. Kildare
171165KildareLodged 18 Oct 2017
Community
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