‘Potentially hundreds of houses’ lost as key site in Wicklow left cleared and unused
The Wicklow PeopleThe future of one of Greystones’ most significant undeveloped sites has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after Wicklow County Council confirmed it is no longer pursuing a long-discussed Public Private Partnership (PPP) for area.
The announcement, made at the July meeting of district councillors, ends years of speculation about how the strategic site might be developed, and raises new questions about the council’s plans for its future.
It has also reignited concerns over vegetation clearance carried out on the Burnaby lands before any agreed development strategy was in place, an issue that sparked controversy among councillors and environmental campaigners when it first emerged in 2023.
At the latest meeting of Greystones Municipal District, Cllr Stephen Stokes said the situation had now become more troubling, given that the PPP has been abandoned, and no alternative plan has been presented.
The site is bounded by Burnaby Mill, Eire Og and the main Charlesland road. © Kathleen Kelleher
He said the site could accommodate “potentially hundreds of houses” and asked whether the council now intended to rewild the site, given the absence of any active project.
Cllr Stokes said he remained “very concerned” about the way the site had been handled, noting that the clearance works appeared premature and had left the land exposed without any clear purpose.
Officials told members that the PPP option had been examined, but was no longer viable and that the council was now “considering options” for the lands.
No detail was provided on what those options might include, whether a council‑led scheme, an arrangement with the Land Development Agency, a joint venture, or leaving the site undeveloped.
The Burnaby lands have long been regarded as one of the most significant undeveloped tracts in Greystones, and Cllr Stokes warned that any future proposal will attract intense scrutiny due to its scale, environmental sensitivity and proximity to existing residential areas.
Previous concerns over vegetation clearance led to questions about enforcement and whether the works complied with planning and environmental rules.
Those questions have resurfaced now that the PPP has been shelved, with Cllr Stokes asking why the land was disturbed if no development mechanism was in place.
For now, the site remains in limbo: cleared, unused and without an active housing plan. Cllr Stokes says the public deserves clarity on whether the land will be developed or restored.