Purchase order plan for rezoned land

Wicklow county councillors voted to rezone a second parcel of land part of which is to be the subject of a compulsory purchase…

Wicklow county councillors voted to rezone a second parcel of land part of which is to be the subject of a compulsory purchase order for a road upgrade.

The site, at Barry's Bridge near Kilpedder, just south of the Glen o' the Downs on the N11, is alongside a planned major interchange for the roadway.

Last week, The Irish Times reported that part of the land rezoned at Jack White's Inn was also the subject of a planned compulsory purchase order. The council has been warned that both rezonings could increase the amount of compensation landowners will be entitled to.

A small part of the Kilpedder site is the subject of a compulsory purchase order, and concerns have emerged that the potential land compensation costs could increase significantly if the rezoning goes ahead.

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It has also emerged that the National Roads Authority (NRA) has objected to the rezoning, and has warned the council that it will refuse to pay any additional compensation costs.

The Barry's Bridge site was among 17 controversial rezonings made by councillors as amendments to the draft development plan during an 18-hour meeting in July.

The rezonings were made against the advice of council staff, and a number have caused considerable controversy in recent weeks.

In relation to the Barry's Bridge site, Mr Michael Egan, a spokesman for the NRA, said if the rezoning remained it "is going to affect land values in the area, and we told the council we thought the rezoning was premature".

The Kilpedder site has raised similar problems to a site at Jack White's Inn, which was also proposed for rezoning at the July meeting, to be developed as a garden/exhibition centre and filling station.

A small part of the site has also been proposed for a compulsory purchase order for a multi-million euro upgrade of the N11 to dual-carriageway between Rathnew and Arklow.

Yesterday the NRA confirmed it had written to Wicklow County Council objecting to both rezonings. Mr Egan said the NRA was "concerned about the implications for the costs associated with acquisition and compensation".

"The authority has informed Wicklow County Council that it is not prepared to pay for any additional costs in relation to the rezonings, and the council will have to bear them itself. Rezoning is going to affect land values in the area."

The NRA's views are included in a submission, one of several hundred that the council has received on the controversial amendments.

Wicklow county manager Mr Eddie Sheehy is preparing its own report on the rezonings and planning changes. This will outline the opinion of the professional staff, and will be given to the councillors next week.

Mr Sheehy has already outlined his opposition to many of the rezonings. At a council meeting on Monday, he said he believed some had been "opportunistic" and made at the last minute.