Council approve plans to build 53 new homes at former FCA headquarters in Wicklow
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow County Council has voted to accept a proposal that will allow for the construction of 53 homes on the site of the Rockbrae House and gate lodge on the Vevay Road in Bray.
In total, the plans are for 21 one-beds, 23 two-beds and nine three-beds, with Rockbrae House itself to become a five-storey building.
The heights across the development will vary, with the lowest on the southside stepping from three to five storeys, and a playground is included in the development as it is over 50 units.
There will be a total of 33 car parking spaces, including one for each of the three-bedroom homes.
The Gothic-style two-storey house was first built in the 1870s on lands leased from the Pembroke Estate. The Defence Forces took ownership of the site following the outbreak of World War II and subsequently became the headquarters of the FCA.
In 2005, when the FCA was amalgamated into the Reserves, the facility fell into disrepair and became derelict. The site was also subject to an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour. Following years of prolonged negotiations, it was finally handed over to the local authority in 2022.
A fire gutted the building in April 2023 and, at the November meeting of the district last year, the council announced its intention to build homes on it for social housing, to address the growing housing needs in the town.
After a preliminary examination, Wicklow County Council has concluded there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development. Therefore, an environmental impact assessment is not required.
A screening of the proposed development has also taken place, with Wicklow County Council determining that it would not be likely to have a significant effect on a European site. Work has also taken place into clearing the site, with new fencing erected and cameras installed.
Speaking during the October monthly meeting of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Joe Behan asked officials to seek funding for an additional unit on the site, and to find an alternative location for bicycle parking.
“There is a coach house on this site, a very old heritage building, and quite surprisingly, if not shockingly, the original plan by the council was to store refuse bins in it and to put bikes in it, as a bike store.
“This is a building that could be repurposed as another house. And the residents who live closest made that suggestion. And I think it is a very reasonable suggestion. It can't be just knocked down, there's a heritage factor to it.”
Cllr Erika Doyle criticised her district colleague for not making this suggestion earlier.
“I would have loved if Cllr Behan had come to his colleagues in Bray with this suggestion of his amendment so that we could consider it and talk to the people that we need to talk to about whether it is feasible or not.
“I know on the face of it, it sounds very feasible, but we all know that there's logistical things to take into consideration.
“I would like to welcome this as well.” she added.
“It's a town centre site that really wouldn't have to be car-dependent, right in the middle of our town, in walking distance of pretty much everything. It has been subject to a lot of antisocial behaviour in recent years.”
Responding to Cllr Doyle, Cllr Behan said he was only trying to make a suggestion.
“I made a submission as part of the Part 8 process. And people can go and look at it if they wish. But this is the forum where we'd come to discuss our views on these things, and as far as I am concerned, I have done nothing wrong by making this proposal.”
In response to Cllr Behan’s proposal, director of services Joe Lane said he would consider looking at it.
“What I will do is look at it again and go back if I can as a smaller Part 8 to the Bray area, if I can. But I need to do a Stage I process with the Department first. So, the first thing I do, I must assess it, it will need a conservation architect to look at it.”
Cllr Behan expressed his frustration at officials for the lack of support for his proposal.
“You were going to dump rubbish bins in it. You were going to throw bikes in it. But you can't imagine how you could make a house out of it. That to me is just ridiculous to be going down that road. However, I'll be holding the officials' feet to the fire on this, I can guarantee that much.”
Separately during the October monthly meeting of Bray Municipal District, architect Michael Stack presented proposals to the elected members about how the 53 homes would be named.
They are to be created across separate blocks – nine three-storey town houses, with another 44 apartments in two separate blocks of 20 and 24 homes.
Rockbrae House, Lodge, Terrace and Estate were floated as potential names for the blocks with widespread support for the proposals from councillors following the presentation.