Wicklow housing site earmarked for 250 homes held up as council awaits government guidance
The Wicklow PeopleThe long‑running uncertainty surrounding the future of the Rehills land in Bray resurfaced again when councillors were told that Wicklow County Council is still waiting for government guidance before it can advance plans for the strategically important site.
The issue was raised by Cllr Joe Behan at the local authority’s July monthly meeting, who said he was increasingly frustrated that no update was being provided on what he described as “one of the most valuable pieces of zoned residential land in the county”.
The 17-acre site, located in the centre of Bray and capable of accommodating an estimated 250 homes, has been repeatedly highlighted by councillors as a key opportunity to deliver badly needed housing. Yet, according to Cllr Behan, it continues to receive “no word” from officials, despite its scale and significance.
Cllr Behan said it was “yet again” necessary to point out that the Rehills land had not been mentioned in the latest housing update. He said it was unacceptable that such a prime location remained idle while the county faced ongoing pressure to increase housing supply. He asked officials to outline the latest position and to explain why progress remained slow.
In response, director of services Joe Lane said the council was not in a position to advance design or delivery plans until the Department of Housing issued new circulars linked to the Housing Delivery Plan for 2027 to 2030.
He said the department’s guidance would set out how local authorities should approach social and affordable housing delivery over the next cycle, including on sites such as Rehills in Bray.
Without that direction, he said, the council could not finalise its approach or determine the appropriate mix or density for the land.
Mr Lane stressed that this was not unique to Bray, and that several other sites across the county were similarly awaiting national instruction before they could progress.
However, he said the council was not standing still. In the short term, officials are preparing tender documents for additional site investigation works on the land.
These will help determine the engineering requirements for the site, including whether a one‑off bridge design will be needed or whether the council can proceed directly to a general housing design.
The Rehills lands have long been understood to present technical challenges, and Mr Lane said the new investigations would be essential in shaping the eventual design approach, particularly if higher‑density development is pursued.
He said the council expected the results to provide clarity on the structural and geotechnical constraints that must be addressed before any construction can begin.
The site for proposed development is located close to the Dargle River.
The comments underline the complex and slow‑moving nature of the project, which has been repeatedly discussed at municipal and county level over recent months.
While councillors have consistently pressed for faster movement, officials have maintained that the absence of national guidance has left them unable to commit to a specific delivery pathway.
The Housing Delivery Plan for 2027–2030 is expected to set out targets and funding mechanisms for local authorities, and Wicklow County Council has said it must align its plans with that framework.