Fewer homes sought for Bray site

Residential elements of a major new €2 billion housing and retail development centred on the former Bray Golf Club site have been scaled back by 344 apartments, according to an amended planning application lodged with Bray Town Council.

Substantial elements of the development, which still includes more than 600 apartments in a range of blocks rising to 10 storeys, are due for a decision by the local planning authority on May 8th next.

As well as the new homes, the development is to include 50,000sq m (538,195sq ft) of retail space, some 6,000sq m (64,583sq ft) of office space, seven pubs, two crèches, five restaurants, a 103-bedroom hotel and a medical centre containing dentist and doctors' surgeries. Also envisaged is a recycling area, laundry and cycle store.

It is thought that a number of large national and international supermarket chains have already expressed an interest in becoming anchor stores for the new development.

The 62-acre site, 53 acres of which are composed of the former Bray Golf Club, is bounded approximately by the Wicklow county boundary to the north, the Dart line to the east, Castle Street and local housing to the west, and the River Dargle to the south.

Given that Dundrum Town Centre currently brings in €20 million a year in rates and charges for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the 62-acre Bray site will be seen as an enormous revenue-generating opportunity for the town council.

Assembled over a decade by local builder Eddie Dwyer of Dwyer Nolan, it was sold to Pizarro Ltd for a reported €90 million in 2003. Pizarro is a consortium led by Dublin property developer Paddy Kelly.

Pizarro also includes such well-known businesses as Durkan New Homes, Alanis Ltd (controlled by the McCormack family), Bray property developers Newlan McSharry and construction company Pierse.

In an effort to make the site a more attractive location for residents, retailers and shoppers, the proposal will contain plans for a public park and several landscaped areas along the River Dargle as well as a new bridge over the river to link the complex more easily with Bray railway station.

The project, if given the go-ahead by Bray Town Council, will be carried out over two phases, with a projected finish date of 2013.

Given the size of the site and its location beside the River Dargle, the council has indicated that it is keen to see flood prevention measures put in place.

The council has indicated that substantial lands along the Dargle should be bought up and a flood prevention strategy put in place as part of the scheme.