GrantedCommercialDecided 19 June 2025

Laois Shopping Centre, James Finton Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise

Amalgamation of a vacant retail unit with the existing Penneys store at Laois Shopping Centre.

2560247 · Laois County Council · Lodged 25 April 2025

Reference: 2560247
Authority: Laois County Council
Register status: Decided
Type: PERMISSION
Received: 25 April 2025

Summary

AI-generated

The project involves internal alterations to merge a vacant 1,379 sqm unit with Penneys, creating a total retail floor area of 2,874 sqm. Works include wall removal, service area alterations, new fire escape doors, a new plant enclosure, and updated external signage.

Commercialretailshopping centrepenneysamalgamation

Floor area: 2,874 m²

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

Make internal alterations at mall level (upper ground floor) to amalgamate the existing vacant retail unit (retail unit no. 132) of 1,379 square metres with the existing penneys unit (retail unit no. 98 – anchor unit
Resulting in an additional 39 square metres retail area and a total penneys retail floor area of 2,874 square metres. The proposed development includes removal of the existing wall between both units, alterations to the existing goods-in service area, blocking up 2no. Existing external door openings with finishes to match existing finishes, forming 3no. New external door openings and altering 1no. External door opening for new fire escape doors with finishes to match existing finishes. Forming new plant enclosure in existing service yard and installing new plant and equipment and all other associated siteworks and enabling works. Fit-out of the amalgamated penneys unit to comprise retail area, back of house storage area, staff facilities, canteen, toilets and new shopfront to mall. The proposed development also provides for external penneys signage on the shopping centre to include replacing 2no. Existing signs and erection of 3no. New signs

Land-use zoning

What this land is zoned for

Town Centre (Primary / Core Retail Area)UC

“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 plan

Built & 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

Residential Property Price Register sales within 500 metres of this site
Address	Date	Price	Distance
1 Meehan Court, Portlaoise, Laois	Jan 2026	€237,000	193 m
Springfield, Ballacolla, Portlaoise	Jun 2025	€180,000	230 m
Cashel, Pike Of Rushall, Portlaoise	Feb 2025	€370,000	230 m
Errill, Portlaoise, Co Laois	May 2025	€130,000	230 m
7 The Green, Belview Woods, Maryboroughprice excludes VAT	May 2025	€308,370	230 m
Shrahanboy, Camross, Portlaoiseprice excludes VAT	Feb 2025	€180,000	230 m
41 The Green, Belview Wood, Maryborough Douglasprice excludes VAT	May 2025	€377,973	230 m
28 The Way, Belview Wood, Maryboroughprice excludes VAT	Jun 2025	€308,370	230 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 received25 April 2025
Decision due19 June 2025
Decision issued19 June 2025
Grant issued28 July 2025
Permission expiry19 January 2028

In the area

Applications near this site

Other planning applications within about 500 m — what else is being proposed or built nearby.

Related developments

Similar applications

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Community

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