Concerns 40 prominent new Wicklow apartments at risk of being bought by single entity

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Concerns over the future of a prominent new apartment development in Newtownmountkennedy were raised at this month’s meeting of Wicklow County Council, with Cllr John Snell warning that a full acquisition by an approved housing body (AHB) would be inappropriate for the town and could undermine social mix.

The development, located on the Main Street, consists of underground parking and four storeys of more than 40 apartments.

Cllr Snell described it as “quite prominent” and “overbearing”, and said he was concerned that the homes were not being advertised on any public platform, which he noted was unusual for a private residential scheme nearing completion.

He told the chief executive that, while he had no issue with the council’s Part 5 obligations, he would strongly oppose any move that resulted in an AHB taking 100pc of the units.

Cllr Snell said developers were increasingly struggling to sell duplex and apartment blocks in the private market, with estate agents reporting difficulties and developers now raising the issue directly with the minister.

In that context, he said AHBs were “waiting in the wings” to acquire unsold stock once they received a comfort letter from the council.

He pointed to previous examples in the town, including Glenbrook and Altidore, where full AHB schemes had been appropriate at the time, but argued that the current development required a mix of private, local authority and affordable housing.

He asked that elected members in the municipal district be consulted if any AHB approach was made, saying communities were increasingly concerned about large single‑tenure blocks.

“I don’t think it’s the type of residential living that people want or appreciate,” he said.

In response, chief executive Emer O’Gorman said the council had received no approach from any AHB regarding the building. She said she shared Cllr Snell’s concerns and emphasised that social mix was “really important” in towns and villages across the county.

Ms O’Gorman told members she had recently used Newtownmountkennedy as an example at a cabinet committee on housing to show where apartments “are not working for people”, signalling a wider policy challenge around high density schemes in commuter belt towns.

She assured councillors that the council would “keep a very close eye” on the development and would inform members immediately if any proposal emerged. “But nothing to date,” she added.