Film studio plan gets green light

MEMBERS of Wicklow County Council agreed to vary the Ashford Local Area Plan to facilitate development at the film studio in Ballyhenry.

Director of Planning Des O’Brien said a planning application on behalf of World 2000 Entertainment Ltd which runs the studio had been received by the council. He said permission was being sought for ‘ the relocation of workshops from permitted location at Backlot Area 1 to proposed alternative location, the single storey workshops area arranging in two buildings A&B,

Mr. O'Brien told the members that the studio has been very successful and ‘it needs more workshops’.

These proposed workshops are situated in a green belt area, he said, and a material contravention the local area plan was needed.

He recommended that the members agree to the contravention.

Following a vote all the members present voted in favour of the change with the exception of Cllr. John Ryan who abstained.