News and views on Greystones harbour and marina [SEE MODERATOR WARNING POST 1187]

Blanchflower,
Thank you for that, an interesting side to the argument against the harbour development.

it would be nice if we could at least get the hoardings taken down asap.

Key changes to Greystones plan

Amendments to the Greystones harbour redevelopment plan would include the development of a primary care medical centre (left) and additional car parking and public gardens next to the civic square. Also envisaged are 34 additional new homes and an additional 800sq m of commercial space.

BUILDERS OF the €300 million redevelopment scheme under way at Greystones harbour in Co Wicklow are to seek increases in the residential and commercial elements of the project.

Sispar, a consortium involving John Sisk and Company and house builders Park Developments, in partnership with Wicklow County Council, is proposing to increase the number of new homes in the scheme from 341 to 375.

It also proposes to increase the commercial area to 6,425sq m – an addition of about 800sq m. Car parking at the €300 million redevelopment project is to be increased from 953 spaces to 1002.

Because of the involvement of Wicklow County Council the application is be decided by Wicklow county councillors under Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act, which does not provide for an appeal against the local authority’s decision.

Sispar had initially sought planning permission for 375 homes, the maximum allowed under the County Development Plan. But this was reduced by An Bord Pleanála to 341 in a move designed to reduce the bulk of the new homes at the front of the project and create a larger civic square.

Sispar said the use of Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act was not a move to undermine the planning board’s decision. Spokesman Paraic Keogh said the board’s decision had been designed to create a civic square and this would be retained in the project. The additional apartments would be located to the rear of the development, on part of a site reserved for a 16-acre park. The move would utilise about three acres of the park.

The commercial changes proposed include the redesignation of most of a block of apartments known as “block D” fronting on to the civic square, for commercial purposes.

This increased commercial space would then be used for a primary care, medical centre. Mr Keogh said a deal had already been agreed with healthcare company Meret, which had an agreement with the HSE.

Wicklow County Council director of services Seán Quirke said the application would be the subject of four weeks of public consultation, followed by two weeks for objections.

The decision would ultimately be made by a vote of elected councillors and there was no provision in Part VIII of the Planning Act to appeal the decision either to the council or to the planning board.

The application to reconfigure block D is to be made next week, followed in July by the application to change the number of new homes. Work on the existing harbour walls is due to be completed by this October.

Should planning permission be granted, work will then get under way on the development of the reconfigured block D, car parking and the civic square.

Work would also continue on the provision of facilities for local clubs.

By the end of 2011 hoardings opposite the Beach House pub and Bayswater Terrace would come down and the public would have access to the square and the waterfront.

No date for the start or completion of the housing elements of the plan was given.

According to Mr Keogh the application to vary the development represented a firm commitment to complete the project. “Sispar are prepared to finish with this subject to achieving the necessary amendments,” the company said.

The alternative is that the harbour walls would be completed with an unfinished public square and routes through the site to the sea for boat users, the developers said.

Huntthe wrote: »

Thanks for that, pretty typical of a politician to take the bits that suit him.

???

If you mean Ciaran Hayden, he's not a politician. He's head of the local chamber of commerce.

MyPerfectCousin wrote: »

???

If you mean Ciaran Hayden, he's not a politician. He's head of the local chamber of commerce.

Ciatran is not president of the chamber of commerce. That is Mark Felton (if his term of office is not over) and he, Ciaran, is a Fianna Fail member of Greystones town Council.

Hi interesting article in todays Irish Times, page two - had trouble with link.

reading that article it seams that sispar's exit strategy is to reapply for something they've either already been refused or something they've no chance of getting so they can settle on the cheapest option of doing nothing and cutting their losses. I hope i'm wrong. Sounds like it's going to be a shambles.

Next Local elections in 4 years

Blanchflower wrote: »

Is this a case of "Call my Bluff" .

The dogs on the street realise that the property bubble is well and truely burst and that the expected prices on which this bubble era project was based have fallen by 50% and are still in feeefall. Throughout Ireland there are ghost estates of empty houses and apartments which are now to be demolished by NAMA.

Sispar are now looking for an excuse to break their contract with Wicklow County Council by proposing a variation to the plan which was already rejected by An Bord Pleanala.

To finish this development the number of structures should be drastically reduced and not increased.

I think your right it is. Call their bluff and tell them to go ahead and see what happens. They won't do it because it doesn't make commercial sense to do bui;d more properties that no one will buy.

Shortly after it's finished we'll have a lovely road running from the top of windgates across the green belt to the new developement as there is no way the current road network can cope with that volume of increased traffic. There will be no alternative....and who will pay for it !