FIVE ACRES OF LAND IN BRAY TO BE USED FOR SOCIAL HOUSING
FIVE acres of land in Bray, formerly used by the defence forces, is being transferred to Wicklow County Council for housing.
The process is at an advanced stage, according to correspondence from the Minister for Defence Simon Coveney to Deputy John Brady.
The Department of Defence is in the process of transferring the lands at Rockbrae House on Vevay Road.
‘ The minister has informed me that the lands at Rockbrae House are currently being disposed by way of transfer to Wicklow County Council and that officials from his department are currently liaising with the Chief State’s Solicitor’s Office on the necessary legal preparatory matters,’ said Deputy Brady.
‘I think this is a fantastic site in Bray and it has huge potential if developed properly. The site has unfortunately fallen into disuse by the Defence Forces, this followed a major restructuring of the Reserve Defence Forces who had primarily used it.’
Deputy Brady said that he met then Minister for Defence Paul Kehoe in 2018, and put forward a proposal of using the disused Rockbrae House site for housing.
‘At the time the Minister gave a commitment to have the officials in his Department carry out a report and consult with all the stake holders. In 2019 the Minister reverted to me saying that officials from his Department had met with representatives of Wicklow County Council to discuss the future of Rockbrae House and the lands and they were awaiting an updated position from the council,’ said Deputy Brady.
‘I have consistently held the view that the lands at Rockbrae House were underused and held so much potential. I’m delighted that serious progress has now been made in advancing the issue and utilising the 5-acre site.’
The area is zoned residential in the Bray Municipal District Local Area Plan. ‘I believe that once the transfer to Wicklow County Council is complete a conversation needs to be had about what type of development would be best for the site,’ said Deputy Brady. ‘I think that it provides us a rare opportunity to develop a social and affordable housing scheme and also provide badly needed community facilities. I also feel that consultation with the residents of Charnwood and the Church Road at an early stage is vital.’
Cllr Dermot O’Brien said that this is a unique opportunity to develop the site in a way that complements the existing area ‘while at the same time responding to the need for social and affordable housing in a sustainable and dynamic way’.
‘ The sooner we open up the conversations about this the better,’ he said.
Cllr Grace McManus said: ‘While we are eye to eye with an acute housing crisis, as we are now, it is essential that we utilise every resource available to address the presenting housing needs of our community. We know that there are many young people, families and individuals who have no choice but to await a proper strategy for public housing, a mix of social and affordable, and I think this land provides us a unique opportunity to answer that need.’
Cllr McManus said that she is looking forward to hearing the views of all within the community ‘on how we can utilise our assets to rise to this challenge in a way that is mindful and considerate of the neighbours of this land too.’