Councillors approve new plan to guide future development in three Wicklow areas
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow councillors have adopted a new planning framework for Greystones-Delgany- Kilcoole.
Councillors voted to amend parts of the County Development Plan at their February monthly meeting on Monday, to allow changes to the planning framework for these areas.
The new framework will replace the current Local Area Plan 2013-2019 and is being adopted as a variation to the existing Wicklow County Development Plan, which remains valid until 2028.
The adopted plan follows several months of work by district councillors, who reviewed submissions from the public and assessed national, regional, and local planning policies.
The second chief executive’s report (issued in December 2025) addressed 86 submissions regarding material alterations, bringing forward 37 for review at the meeting.
.Key changes include strengthening riparian protection in Coolagad with a central green area along the watercourse, designating land east and south of the Charlesland R774 dual carriageway for Active Open Space, and addressing environmental concerns at Bellevue Hill with a requirement for a publicly accessible looped trail.
Housing delivery targets set out in the updated guidelines are higher than before, but the local authority says there is currently no shortage of zoned land in the county to meet them.
In Greystones-Delgany, the plan proposes zoning 38 hectares of land for new residential development in two phases.
The housing target for the area under the current County Development Plan is 1,953 units from 2016 to 2031. H
owever, according to CSO figures, 2,143 new homes had been completed by the end of 2024, meaning the target has already been exceeded by around 10pc. Several additional developments under construction will deliver roughly 250 more homes in the short term.
The report confirmed no deficiencies in water or wastewater capacity for lands zoned for new development, deeming them serviced or serviceable for infrastructure.
Key recommendations also include committing to a local transport plan focused on sustainable travel, defending Kilcoole’s designation as a ‘Level 4 Self-Sustaining Town’, reclassifying some lands to Active Open Space to address facility shortages, and emphasising protection for watercourses and historic landscapes.
The plan was verified by the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly to ensure it remained consistent with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.
Meanwhile, Cathaoirleach of the Greystones Municipal District, Lourda Scott, praised the collaborative efforts of her district colleagues and the council staff.
“We went through every submission carefully, often several times, discussing and refining our ideas.
“While we did not always agree on every point, we maintained a respectful and constructive dialogue throughout. What united us was a shared commitment to do what is right for the people we represent and to ensure that this plan delivers real benefits for our community,” she said.
As the current cathaoirleach, she oversaw the final stages of the planning process.
She made significant formal submissions during the consultation phases, pushing for the restriction of development on Kilcoole’s Sea Road and establishing a greenbelt to separate the town from the coast. She also called for ‘healthy placemaking’ through enhanced cycle paths and walkways, especially for school access.
Now that the Local Area Plan has been formally adopted, council officials say the process will ensure that the planning framework for Greystones-Delgany is robust, meets population growth targets, and balances housing needs with community and open space uses.