Go-ahead for nursing home at Dell site
OFFICE BUILDING AND CAFE ALSO INCLUDED IN PLANS FOR SITE
PERMISSION has been granted for the first phase of a development at the old Dell site on the corner of Boghall Road and Vevay Road in Bray.
An Bord Pleanála has given the nursing home plans the green light after the original planning permission was appealed.
Wicklow County Council granted the permission in April to Avonvard Ltd. As well as a a 205-bedroom nursing home, the plans include a four-storey office building and groundfloor café.
Developers are planning to build the nursing home in 2019 into 2020, and the office facility in 2020, into 2021. They said that the nursing home will provide 205 jobs and the office space up to 258 jobs.
The site has been vacant since Dell relocated to Cherrywood in 2006, taking with it around 1,000 local jobs.
The site was the location for Dell’s original UK and Ireland sales, marketing and supporting operation set up in 1992. Prior to that, Nixdorf operated at the same premises.
This application represents the first phase of a larger development on the 9.36 acre site.
Deputy Stephen Donnelly welcomed the news. ‘It has not only been a waste of perfectly good land, but the empty space has also been an eyesore for the community,’ he said.
‘I’m very happy that a slightly altered version of the new design has been accepted by the planning authority. The latest plans will see a mix of residential and commercial properties erected. Part will be designated for a nursing home and part will be used as an office block. The changes involved the height of the buildings. Some locals had been worried that the planned four storeys would overlook their homes and restrict their views of Bray Head. Amendments were submitted to An Bord Pleanála and the new design will now stretch to only three storeys in the north and east of the site. These changes will hopefully alleviate the concerns of nearby residents and will allow the developers move a step closer to breaking ground.’
Deputy Donnelly said that in his role as Fianna Fáil health spokesperson, he is very relieved to see a new nursing home coming to the area.
‘My party has recently exposed serious delays in the project to upgrade existing nursing homes to acceptable standards. In Fact, almost one third of projects announced in 2016 have missed their completion date. It is absolutely essential we provide high quality accommodation for people at every stage in their life. We know many prefer to remain in their own home, but when that isn’t an option we absolutely have to provide top notch alternatives. We already have many fine nursing homes in Wicklow, hopefully this new nursing home will be prove to be a great addition.’