Future of Bray local area plan remains unclear

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Councillors in Bray have expressed frustration at the lack of clarity on when the local area plan for the town will be published.

During the district’s September monthly meeting, elected members pressed council officers on when the document will be adopted, but to no effect.

Following a public consultation process at the end of last year, Wicklow County Council is currently reviewing the existing area plan for Bray and preparing an updated version for the Bray Municipal District, (affecting Bray town and its environs, Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue).

The last plan is now a year and a half out of date, having run between 2018 and 2024.

The supply of housing over the next six years is among the main topics that will be addressed as part of this new plan.

The Municipal District will need new homes built between now and 2031 to meet the growing population demands. The focus of growth under the plan will be in Bray, with additional growth forecast in Enniskerry and modest growth in Kilmacanogue. These homes will be provided for in a sustainable manner, aligning with the aims of the County Development Plan which will remain valid until 2028.

Lands are zoned at Fassaroe west of Bray to accommodate a new residential development and employment centre.

The strategy for Fassaroe will be reviewed as part of the preparation of the new plan.

The pre-draft consultation stage also acknowledged a range of other needs that need to be addressed over the lifetime of the plan. These include urban design, tourism and retail, heritage and biodiversity, infrastructure, climate change and transport.

There is also an onus on the county council to make sure enough land is zoned to meet the projected future educational, community, sport and recreational needs of the future population.

Speaking during the meeting Cllr Dermot Daisy O’ Brien raised concern about the role Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has played in the discussions.

The plan for Dun Laoghaire maps out the vision for Old Connaught, which is to evolve it into a sustainable urban village, integrating the existing community with new residential developments and providing a strong sense of place.

This involves facilitating the development of new homes (potentially over 2,000), in line with population growth, while ensuring the area offers a variety of amenities, good access to transportation, and social infrastructure.

“We know that the area plan for Dun Laoghaire is happening and that will affect a lot of people in Bray as Old Connaght Avenue has a link to Bray Emmets.

“I don’t believe we were properly consulted during the consultation process. I think in future we should explore how contributions to discussions around these area plans are managed,” he added.

Echoing those sentiments Cllr Joe Behan said it was not fair that officials in Bray did not have any input.

“Dun Laoghaire is a much richer authority, with bigger resources. I think it’s a disgrace that they are going ahead with their plan.”

Meanwhile Cllr Melanie Corrigan expressed her disappointment at a recent planning refusal for a development in Fassaroe, which means further expansion of the town could be severely constrained.

An Coimisiún Pleanála refused permission for a major housing development on the outskirts of the town.

The national planning body rejected an application by Cosgrave Property Group for permission to construct some 241 houses and 409 apartments, plus a creche, on a 78.5- hectare site off Berryfield Lane.

Among the reasons given were the uncertainty over public transport services and concerns that the development would result in urban sprawl.

The plans also provided for a neighbourhood centre, a new 2.4km road connecting the N11 to Ballyman Road, a new pedestrian and cycle route including bridge between the N11 and Dargle Road Upper as well as 15.3 hectares of a district park and open spaces which would include a shop and café kiosk.

The project was the first phase of a comprehensive development plan for the area, a vision by the Cosgrave group for a long- term proposal to construct over 2,200 residential units over four phases up to 2040.

The commission also said the plans “did not adhere to the planning principles on compact growth, sequential development and phasing, which are set out in the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022- 2028”.

Cllr Corrigan believes the development would have helped to meet the growing housing needs in the area.

“I believe it’s a missed opportunity.” she added.