Plans for 20 new social homes in Wicklow given approval
The Wicklow PeopleDistrict councillors in Arklow have voted to approve the construction of 20 new social homes on the townland of Ballinacor East near Barndarrig.
Wicklow County Council found there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development, and that an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required.
The local authority assessed whether the project would be likely to have a significant effect on a European site, however it’s expected it wouldn’t cause any significant damage.
The plans allow for the construction of four three-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom homes, all two storeys high.
There will additionally be three bungalows designed for older people. Two of these will have three bedrooms and one will have two.
Speaking during the district’s October monthly meeting, Cllr Miriam Murphy queried how the allocation of housing units was made.
In response Arklow MD staff member Leonora Earls said they were guided by the Department of Housing.
“The allocation came after the council responded to housing list requirements from the Department, the highest housing demand in the area is for one and two bed properties.”
Cllr Warren O’Toole raised concerns about the footpath running along the front of the development, and the impact that could have on access to other parts of the village.
The elected members approved in principle to allow construction of the 20 homes to go ahead, after four motions were brought forward.
The first, proposed by Cllr Peir Leonard and seconded by Cllr Pat Fitzgerald called for a change of the two-bedroom homes to three bedrooms instead.
Cllr Leonard said: “The need for these two-bed units doesn’t necessarily mean good practice.”
The second, proposed by Cllr Pat Kennedy and seconded by Cllr Leonard, called for the installation of a playground and landscaping around the development.
Cllr Kennedy said: “Allocating space for a playground is making an investment in children, investing in children helps to safeguard the future.
“A playground and the surrounding landscape would be important to help build and foster a sense of community.”
Cllr Kennedy, proposing a third motion which gained support from Cllr Fitzgerald, asked that if no funding was currently available to develop a playground, a plan would be put in place to review the proposal again in the future.
Cllr Murphy asked for the planners to consider widening the car parking spaces in the development to make them more accessible, which gained support from Cllr Sylvester Bourke.
Plans for the development remain at the detailed design stage.
Tender documents for the project will not be ready for publishing for at least another year.