HOUSING BOOST FOR GREYSTONES AS 192 HOMES GIVEN GREEN LIGHT
PERMISSION has been granted for 192 homes to be built in Greystones, with the developer committing to a community centre and enterprise units.
Permission was granted last week with a number of conditions including the payment of contributions, a management plan to be submitted, information on pedestrian crossings, site layout and so on.
The development will be on 8.86 hectares between the Kilcoole Road R761, Charlesland, and a residential property on the L1221.
The development will consist of the demolition of an existing agricultural building and construction of a mix of two-, threeand four-bedroom houses.
There will be new vehicular access from the Kilcoole Road as well as access from the existing roundabout on the L1221.
The plans include the provision of a two-storey creche. Cairn Homes has also confirmed that they have committed to deliver a creche and an adjoining community room in the Charlesland development. These will be for residents. These will both be delivered during phases one and two, along with the 192 homes.
In addition to that, Cairn Homes has also committed to the delivery of an 8,000 square metre enterprise centre in phase three – after 192 homes, the creche and community room are delivered in phases one and two.
It’s on this basis that Wickloy County Council approved Cairn Homes’ planning application.
The enterprise centre is therefore not the subject of a condition but the Action Area Plan (AAP) restricts future development until it is progressed.
Cllr Derek Mitchell welcomed the news that the enterprise units would be included. He said that he initially objected as there was no commitment, and ‘jobs cannot be created in Greystones unless work units are built’.
He said that jobs are urgently required as we can’t all commute on the overcrowded N11 or Dart, ‘yet all developers want is to build houses’.
The enterprise centre will include 2,700 square metres of community units for start-ups.
‘A decade ago I wrote a paper with the Chamber of Commerce showing the need for this and this was included in the site plan which is why it has been committed now,’ said Cllr Mitchell.
A primary school is to be built in Phase 2 and a Secondary School, next to the sports facilities, in Phase 5. A bus interchange is to be included in Phase 1.
Meanwhile, permission has been granted for a number of other smaller developments around north Wicklow.
Permission was granted for four residential units on Sea Road in Kilcoole, and 14 units on Kilcoole’s Main Street, as well as 12 units at Monastery, Enniskerry.
Elsewhere in Greystones, Wicklow County Council has given permission for 42 units at Seagreen, Blacklion.