How did Storm Chandra-devastated estate in Wicklow get built on floodplain?
The Wicklow PeopleThe Riverfield estate in Aughrim is in a state of crisis following catastrophic flooding caused by Storm Chandra in late January.
At least 13 families in the estate are currently picking up the pieces after their homes were severely damaged by high winds and heavy rain.
With multiple families being told their homes are now unliveable due to humidity and extensive utility damage, one could question how did the local authority get planning permission for the development, and why has it not been better protected?
Construction of the Riverfield estate dates back nearly 25 years, and it wasn’t without controversy. Residents and observers mounted several challenges against the works, many of which reached the attention of An Bord Pleanála.
The Riverfield site was formally envisaged for high-density residential development as part of the Aughrim Interim Zoning Plan 2002.
The document was the first to specifically zone the area for housing, moving it from agricultural or natural use to residential, which paved the way for the planning applications that followed during the mid-2000s.
This zoning occurred just as the Celtic Tiger economic boom was accelerating the growing demand for housing in commuter-belt towns like Aughrim.
Following the 2002 zoning, developers applied for permission to build the estate. This was during a period before modern flood risk guidelines were in place, meaning the high-risk nature of the floodplain did not legally prevent development at the time. These flood risk guidelines were only established in 2009.
The Riverfield estate was part of a major launch of more than 200 houses across Wicklow in May 2007. Residents began receiving keys in April 2008 after significant delays, including a prolonged wait for ESB connections.
Records indicate that development in the Riverfield area during this period was primarily driven by Lauragh Property Investments Ltd.
The transition of the site from a natural floodplain to a residential estate followed a sequence of applications handled by Wicklow County Council (WCC).
The Aughrim Interim Zoning Plan 2002 designated the land for residential use, creating the legal pathway for developers to apply for high-density housing.
Major applications were processed during the development phase between 2004 and 2005. Due to the controversial nature of building on a floodplain, many applications in the Aughrim area were appealed.
Reports from this era often highlight that, while the original proposals frequently saw houses setback from the river, revised plans often moved them closer to established building lines, supported by site-specific flood risk assessments that were less stringent than today's standards.
Because the site was a known floodplain, the developers (primarily Lauragh Property Investments) had to submit specialised reports to justify building there.
The core environmental mitigation was to "lift" the houses onto elevated platforms. The aim was to keep floor levels above 1-in-100-year flood levels. However, critics argued this was not "fully engineered" in early submissions and failed to account for how displacing this water would affect other parts of the village.
Reports from Irish Water and some council engineers repeatedly flagged that the Aughrim Wastewater Treatment Plant was "severely deficient" and "hydraulically overloaded". It was noted that additional discharge from the estate would result in untreated wastewater entering the Aughrim River, an important habitat for salmon and freshwater pearl mussels.
As of early 2026, Uisce Éireann confirmed the project has moved to the final design stage, with a planning application expected within the next year. Despite this progress, actual construction is not expected to begin until approximately 2029.
Some developer-led reports claimed the site was of "low ecological interest" due to its proximity to the town centre, a claim often disputed by residents who valued the riverbank’s natural biodiversity.
Residents argued that raising the houses on platforms created an "obtrusive" visual impact that was never properly addressed in the planning phase.
Objections frequently focused on the "unacceptable risk" to public health due to potential flooding and the inadequate sewerage system.
A common theme in appeals highlighted how the development was "premature”. Residents argued that no new houses should be built until the village's infrastructure was upgraded to handle the expected population growth.
Ultimately planning for the development was approved during a period of rapid development despite its location on a river floodplain.
Nearly 20 years since the estate opened, Storm Chandra hit causing the Aughrim River to burst its banks and flood Riverfield, with reaction becoming highly emotional and political.
Residents in Aughrim described the recent flooding episodes as "devastating," with many currently still counting the cost after approximately 50 homes were damaged because of the storm.
A central issue for many residents is that insurance companies refuse to provide home cover for the estate. They are calling for the government to enact legislation, such as that proposed by Wicklow TD John Brady, to mandate flood cover for affected properties.
While emergency response payments are available, those living in the area argue these grants are insufficient for the scale of their loss and that they should not have to take out loans to fix homes that were affected by the rainfall.
The community-led GoFundMe campaign titled ‘Flooded houses in Aughrim’ continues to receive donations since it was launched.
The fundraiser was started by Chloe Cassin to assist families in the estate whose homes were severely damaged, including that of her sister Leanne O’Toole.
Funds are intended to cover the cost of essential items, such as replacing destroyed flooring, furniture, and appliances, as well as providing small gifts to help local children feel safe again.
The campaign originally set a goal of €4,500 to provide immediate relief to roughly 13 impacted families who are currently unable to secure flood insurance.
Three weeks on from the peak of the stormy weather, just under €1,000 has been raised to help the cause.
While WCC has introduced significantly stricter rules to prevent new estates from being built in flood-prone areas, they cannot undo the damage caused at the existing Riverfield estate.
To ensure this level of damage does not happen again, WCC is shifting from a policy of allowing development to one of active catchment management.
In early January 2026, prior to the arrival of Storm Chandra, WCC launched a new initiative in the Aughrim River catchment called Spongeworks.
This EU-funded project uses nature-based solutions to enhance the soil's capacity to "soak up" rainfall like a sponge in the uplands before it reaches urban centres like Riverfield.
Under the 2022–2028 Town Plan, the council has officially designated large areas adjacent to Riverfield as Flood Zone A and B. This means any future development on these lands is strictly limited to "water-compatible" uses (like parks), preventing the cumulative "soakage loss" that happens when more concrete is added to a floodplain.
The recent flooding has highlighted the need for a formal Aughrim Flood Relief Scheme. While a major scheme like the one in Arklow is not yet built for Aughrim, WCC is now required to review and update its flood risk assessments every cycle to account for recent extreme weather events.
There is a growing political sentiment from the opposition that government ministers should hold local authorities accountable—and potentially provide funding—for the fallout of what is now seen as inappropriate planning decisions.
Social Democrats environment spokesperson and Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore believes not enough is being done to tackle the problem.
“Reports this week that 300 flood-prone sites were proposed for rezoning by councillors, while the government put climate action on the backburner, is an accurate representation of the dire state of affairs we find ourselves in; we’ve just come out of a period that saw towns in the east and south-east of the country absolutely devastated by flooding.
“We know that climate change will only make events like these more frequent and more damaging, yet we’re forced to address the farce of building on flood plains while the Climate Action Plan is nowhere to be seen.
“We must stop making nonsensical planning decisions for houses and developments in flood plain areas, it’s the State that pays the costs of the devastation caused by floods to these properties – the Minister must call in the councils in question to speak about zoning flood plain areas for housing and make it clear that this must not continue,” she added.