Housing Department will not fund housing development on last council-owned site in Bray
The Wicklow PeopleThe Department of Housing has confirmed funding won’t be provided for a development on a crucial, council-owned site in Bray, which councillors want to see developed for social and affordable housing.
Some 10 acres in size, as far back as June 2022 the National Development Finance Agency in conjunction with the Department of Housing had earmarked the Rehills site for up to 120 homes.
It has been a regular item of discussion among the councillors who have consistently expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of progress, which, seemingly, comes down to costs.
The site is considered significant as it is the only land bank in council ownership that could help to address the growing demand for housing in the town.
In May 2025 architect Michael Stack and senior engineer Helena Fallon gave a detailed presentation to district councillors on proposals for the housing development.
They advised members that plans are subject to change during the planning process.
The current plans include a mix of affordable, social and age friendly developments in a mix of a houses and apartments, to be rolled out in three phases.
Phase one would see the construction of 140 units in total, all five stories in height.
A playground would be developed at the northwest of the site and the floodplain area would be landscaped with no permanent structures built on it. It is also proposed to develop a bridge for access to the site, subject to funding.
Pedestrian access will be looked at during phase two of the development, while the floodplains won’t be affected.
An environmental assessment will also be carried during phase three before planning is sought to begin construction.
However, the project was dealt a blow after district councillors were told during their November monthly meeting that funding from the Department would not be forthcoming.
It’s after Wicklow County Council chief executive Emer O’ Gorman noted in her October monthly report that a stage one funding application had been submitted to the Department, which was awaiting approval.
Speaking during the meeting Cllr Joe Behan said this latest development is worrying.
“The development of the site has been at a complete standstill these past few years, I find it quite shocking to hear the Department are not going to do anything about it.”
In 2022 Cllr Behan told council officials the possibility that the council owned land could be included in a PPP development bundle was “unacceptable” and had “never been agreed or discussed” by elected members.
Cllr Behan says the Department now needs to provide clarity on why this decision was made.
“This is a landmark site, ideal for affordable housing as well as social housing. It’s the last piece of council-owned land that we have in the Bray area – which is why it is so important,” he added.
There was strong criticism of the move by his other district colleagues during the meeting.
Cllr Dermot Daisy O’Brien largely reserved judgement on the matter having first questioned whether the move was because of inertia on the part of Wicklow County Council or central government.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Erika Doyle asked housing officer Merlin Ovington to contact department officials for further information as to why no funding is being made available to progress the project.