A €1.1 billion plan to build 3,000 houses and a business park on the site of the former Carlow sugar factory moved a step closer to realisation last night when councillors voted to support a proposed rezoning of land owned by food company Greencore.
The company submitted its plans for the 333-acre, edge-of-town site late last year in response to a call for submissions from landowners by the Carlow local authorities.
At a meeting of Carlow County Council yesterday, councillors voted in favour of the draft Carlow Town Environs Local Area Plan by 11 to six. There were two abstentions and two councillors were absent. The plan will now go out to public consultation with submissions invited up to January 26th next.
Greencore said it expects the "Carlow Gateway" project to create "up to 2,000 jobs", including 400 a year during the five-to-eight-year development phase.
It said 65 acres would be set aside for "sport and recreation" and include a 35-acre riverside walkway in the form of a linear park on both sides of the river Barrow. Shops, schools and offices would also be built.