2,000 extra houses planned in proposed Wicklow rezoning

Substantial rezoning proposals for land in north Co Wicklow have led to the county's Draft Development Plan being described as a "developer-centred nightmare scenario". Wicklow County Council is currently seeking an extension of one year before it publishes its new Draft Development Plan, but The Irish Times has learned that the plan proposes suburban housing in three key areas, linking the villages of Delgany, Kilcoole and Greystones by making provision for an additional 2,000 houses.

Along the R761 from Bray Head to Kilcoole, the plan proposes to rezone land at Coolegad, to the north of Greystones and around Greystones Harbour, where it is proposed to have "open zoning" which would allow for housing and/or commercial activity. Rezoning of land is also planned for Charlesland to the south of the town, while lands are already zoned for housing to the west of the R761 between Greystones and Delgany. Here locals are seeking a judicial review of the council's decision to grant planning permission for a 263house scheme, on part of what they claim is the last green belt between Delgany and Greystones.

While it is not proposed to alter the zoning of lands at Farrankelly, south of Delgany village, Wicklow Fianna Fail TD, Mr Dick Roche, says this land will come under intense pressure for housing in the next five years. Describing the plan as "the nightmare scenario", Mr Roche added that "looking south from Bray Head you will see what amounts to a vast conurbation between the sea and the N11, swallowing up an area the size of Bray".

Mr Roche was also critical of a suggestion by Wicklow County Council to impose a levy of as much as £6,500 per house, a levy he said would be passed on to house purchasers.

"This is an absolute scandal and amounts to nothing more than a tax on home-buyers. "The council proposes to use this money for roads after the houses are built. But the R761 down Windgates is already a narrow, unimproved county road where there have been a number of fatalities. It hasn't changed in 20 years since it served a population of 4,500. Now it is intended to serve a population of 22,000."

Insisting that "developer needs are now driving thinking in Wicklow, Mr Roche said he would be voting against the Development Plan unless green belts were incorporated between Greystones, Delgany and Kilcoole.