Selection of housing sites
MEMBERS of Greystones Municipal District approved sites at Three Trouts, Lotts Lane and Carrig Villas for housing officials to look at developing.
Housing Director at Wicklow County Council Joe Lane explained that if they want to be building in 2020 or 2021, they need to be making decisions now about the priorities of Greystones in the next two years.
They presented members with a list of six potential sites, including Burnaby Heights, Victoria Road and in-fills at Lower Gratten Park.
The Three Trouts site would be for 30 units, Lotts Lane 50, and Carrig Villas eight.
Mr Lane said that any development would be subject to funding.
He said that when members gave the go-ahead on three, the next step would be stage one application to the department.
‘ That in itself will take six months,’ officials told members. ‘We are anxious to get approval from yourselves before we start chasing issues associated with each site.’
Cllr Tom Fortune said that it has been in a development plan that Kilcoole has a disproportionate amount of council housing which needs to be balanced.
‘You need to look at the whole of Kilcoole,’ said Cllr Fortune.
Cllr Grainne McLoughlin wondered if these schemes would be for just social housing, or social and affordable, and affordable. Officials said that they would look at social, affordable and private, prioritising social. Cllr McLoughlin said that mixes work, rather than solely social housing.
Cllr McLoughlin asked why the council would not buy Fairfield Park. ‘We haven’t been offered Fairfield Park,’ said Mr Lane.
Cllr McLoughlin proposed that the council actively pursue the possibility of purchasing the park. Cllr Jennifer Whitmore seconded the proposal.
Cllr Grainne McLoughlin asked if the old depot site could be used for housing, but it is zoned town centre rather than residential.
Cllr Tom Fortune said that the Lott Lane had been CPO’d at the height of the market for €6.9 million when there was a massive landbank in the area. He said he would drive the director there to show him the site in daylight.
‘I fully understand the urgent need for housing,’ said Cllr Fortune.’
Cllr Derek Mitchell said that it’s embarrassing that land at Lott Lane was purchased at great cost, albeit the natural cost at the time.
He said that Lott Lane shouldn’t be all council, it should also have private housing, because of other social houses around.
Cllr Mitchell said that Carrig Villas and New Road may be suitable for older people.
He was surprised that Burnaby Heights was suggested. He said that he understood the site was open space as part of the planning permission of Burnaby Heights. CLLR Jennifer Whitmore said that she welcomed the scrutiny of the area and said that they should look at rezoning land.
Members heard that land owned at Charlesland was with the corporate policy group for review, Mr Lane said due to specific financial implications.
‘I’m putting on record Joe, I don’t accept your answer,’ said Cllr Fortune. ‘Why is this site so particularly special?’