Planning application received: change the use from pre-school facility to one-bedroom dwellinghouse and Retention Permission to Retain canopy and open

A planning application was lodged with Laois County Council on 3 June 2026 by Clonincurragh in Mountrath. The applicant seeks to change the use of a pre‑school facility into a one‑bedroom dwellinghouse and to obtain retention permission for the canopy and open shed that currently sit at the rear of the building, together with all associated site works.

The application is still pending decision; no decision code has yet been assigned. The council’s planning portal lists the reference number 2660336 for this submission. The applicant has requested that the existing canopy and shed be retained rather than removed or altered, indicating a desire to preserve the current external features while converting the interior space into residential accommodation.

This application is part of a broader stream of planning activity in Mountrath and surrounding areas. Recent decisions recorded by the council include the placement of two additional 20‑ft storage containers on the west bank of the Grand Canal at Vicarstown, alterations to the internal layout of Killenard Community Centre/Old School House, construction of a two‑storey dwelling house with domestic garage, garden room, septic tank and percolator in Killeen, and changes to an existing commercial/warehouse unit at Unit 16, Barrow Valley Retail Park. These examples illustrate the variety of uses and developments that the council is currently reviewing across County Laois.

The change of use from a pre‑school facility to a residential dwellinghouse reflects a shift in local land use patterns, while the retention permission for the canopy and shed suggests an effort to maintain some of the existing character of the site. No further details are available at this stage regarding approval or expected timelines.

For full details of the application and its status, see the Laois County Council planning portal (reference 2660336).

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