Design phase for south Wicklow greenway expected to last two years
The Wicklow PeopleThe next phase of development for the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway is expected to last up to two years.
The 24-month timeline for Phase 3 (Design and Environmental Evaluation) was recently confirmed during a parliamentary exchange between Wicklow Wexford TD Brian Brennan and junior minister Jerry Buttimer. The timeline is a standard requirement for major Irish infrastructure projects.
According to Transport Infrastructure Ireland guidelines, this stage is where the general "preferred route" is turned into a precise, legal, and buildable blueprint.
With the move to Phase 3, Wicklow County Council has been tasked with appointing technical experts to advance the detailed design. As of February 2026, a successful tenderer has been identified, and their formal appointment is expected to follow shortly.
The local authority must now prove the greenway won't harm the local ecosystem. Specialists must conduct seasonal surveys (often covering a full 12-month cycle) to monitor local wildlife, such as bats, birds, and otters, especially near the Derry River.
Compiling a Natura Impact Statement and an Environmental Impact Assessment report are also a necessary part of the process. These are massive technical documents required to pass strict EU environmental laws.
Passing a TII Gate Review is also a necessity, where national authorities must formally sign off on the design before it can even be submitted for planning.
While a general route exists, Phase 3 defines the definitive land take—the exact square metre where the path, fences, and drainage will sit.
There are more than 70 individual landowners along the 38km stretch. The project team must meet with each one to discuss access, fencing, and accommodation works before the design can be finalised.
Under the National Code of Best Practice, landowners who enter into a voluntary land acquisition agreement are eligible for a greenway sustainability payment. This is an additional ex-gratia payment made on top of the negotiated market value for the land.
The GSP is calculated based on the linear length of the greenway passing through the property (anywhere from 1 to 550 metres) and ranges in value between €6,700 and €22,500+.
A portion of the GSP is typically paid as an early sign-on payment once the VLAA is signed, with the balance paid upon completion of the scheme. The council will cover reasonable solicitor and surveyor fees incurred by the landowner during negotiations.
Engineers need to perform trial pits and soil testing to ensure the old railway embankments and bridges can safely support the new infrastructure.
The council is being cautious following the recent An Bord Pleanála refusal of the Blessington Greenway in December 2024. To avoid a similar fate, they must ensure Phase 3 is legally sound before moving to Phase 4, which will involve developing a preliminary business case to justify the public spend.
The Blessington project faced a major setback when the planning board refused the 33km loop due to insufficient evidence that it wouldn't impact water quality or local bird species.
The board concluded the development could act as a source of water pollution, making it "prejudicial to public health".
Beyond environmental directives, the project faced significant local opposition and planning conflicts.
Residents and councillors criticised the plan for lack of consultation regarding the downgrading of lake bridges to single-lane traffic with lights, which raised safety and convenience concerns.
The removal of town-centre parking spaces in Blessington to accommodate the route also drew heavy local criticism.
In contrast, the Arklow project has cleared Phase 2 (Options Study) and has the preferred route confirmed for detailed design.
To avoid the environmental and legal pitfalls that stalled the Blessington project, the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway team has implemented several tactical shifts in their Phase 3 design.
Unlike the Blessington route, which attempted to hug the sensitive shoreline of the reservoir, the Arklow project is strictly utilising the disused railway corridor.
By sticking to the old rail bed, the project uses land that has already been disturbed historically, which is easier to justify in an Environmental Impact Assessment than clearing new paths through pristine habitats.
Designers are introducing wider buffers between the track and the Derry and Avoca rivers to prevent the runoff and water quality issues that triggered the Blessington public health refusal.
Rather than submitting the entire 38km route as one, all or nothing application (which led to the collapse of the Blessington loop), the council is considering a phased submission approach. This allows fewer sensitive sections to proceed, while complex environmental areas (like the Arklow Marsh) undergo more rigorous study.
Learning from the "insufficient data" critique at Blessington, Wicklow County Council has front-loaded the Arklow project with specialised studies.
The project team have commissioned detailed surveys for lamprey, salmon, and otters in the nearby special areas of conservation.
To prevent delays from unexpected finds (like those at Baltyboys), they are conducting non-invasive geophysical surveys along the entire 38km stretch before finalising the design.
Both projects have received substantial funding, but Blessington has spent more to date (more than €1.4m) on consultancy and legal fees compared to Arklow’s developmental spending.
The Arklow to Shillelagh project received a €300,000 boost in January 2026 to begin the 24-month Phase 3 process, while councillors in Blessington are currently examining alternatives following their planning refusal.
As the preferred route has become clearer, localised concerns have emerged. Residents in Aughrim have raised worries about the route passing through the village via the river bridge and St. Gordon’s Drive. Concerns focus on traffic management, potential loss of green space, and a lack of detail on parking infrastructure.
A minority of public feedback suggests that funds should be prioritised for public transport (including better rail links to and from Dublin) rather than cycling amenities.
The project team has clarified that the greenway will include larger footpaths and increased lighting in urban sections to discourage anti-social behaviour and promote footfall for local businesses.
In response to specific fears in Aughrim, the council confirmed the route will not pass through the Disabled Angling facility, preserving that local amenity.
Speaking in the Dáil about the latest development Deputy Brennan said it was important that the project doesn’t face any further delays.
“I know first-hand the area’s needs and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this greenway project. Our support for this is simply critical, as for decades now there is a genuine feeling in south County Wicklow that it has been ignored in terms of tourism investment,” he said. “This project will simply be a game changer and a catalyst for future tourism developments in Arklow, Woodenbridge, Aughrim, Tinahely and Shillelagh and everywhere in between.”
Deputy Brennan believes the amenity, once complete will have a positive impact on local tourism.
“I am of the belief that tourism is the greatest commodity we have in this country. When a person has guests staying in towns or villages it really ticks so many boxes, employment, support for local suppliers, shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants.
“I recognise there has been positive progress on this project over the past few months, but this project is simply taking too long. The first meeting was held nine years ago, on 17 October 2017, in Lawless’ Hotel, Aughrim.
“We must stay positive, and I look forward to ensuring this particular project comes to fruition.”
In response Deputy Buttimer said he is determined to get the project over the line.
“It is not if, it is when, and all of us are anxious to progress the scheme,” he said. “From our end, there are no barriers to the progression of the scheme. We have allocated money for the greenway project. There seems to be broad acceptance and agreement around this greenway, which is a positive.
"Our Department has allocated funding for the greenway project, and we look forward to its completion.”