Wicklow council displays plans for Greystones

Wicklow County Council has put on public display plans for the compulsory purchase of land on the foreshore at Greystones which it wants to acquire for the town's mooted harbour and marina project.

The proposed compulsory purchase order was finalised by the council in the run-up to Christmas and has been on display at the council's offices in Greystones and Wicklow town since last Thursday.

Local residents and other interested parties have until February 18th to view the plans and lodge any objections.

The council wants to acquire land on Greystones Harbour foreshore, which is currently owned by four private land owners, to allow for a major building project in the area on a public-private partnership basis.

The project, which is valued at hundreds of millions of euro, will involve the reclamation of 34 acres of land from the open sea.

It is planned to build almost 400 residential units, as well as commercial properties, rejuvenate the entire harbour area and construct a new 230-berth marina.

The compulsory purchase order, if confirmed by An Bord Pleanála, would authorise the council to acquire over 79 acres of land, both above and below the high water mark.

The order and any objections are expected to be considered by the board in the first quarter of next year.

A tendering process for the building works is already well advanced, with a shortlist of four developers having been drawn up.

Mr Seán Quirke, director of services at Wicklow County Council, said once planning permission is granted, construction on the scheme would begin in the first half of 2006.

The four bidders were shortlisted from eight applicants at the beginning of last month and they now have until February 14th next to submit their designs and proposals.

The key issue for Wicklow County Council is that the project includes works estimated at €30 million to regenerate the harbour and protect the coastline along the north beach, both of which are in a poor state of repair from sea damage and land erosion.

The four developers, who have not been named, must put together a design subject to a number of conditions, including a limitation on the number of housing units to 375 and a cap on the number of berths in the proposed marina which is set at 230.

In addition, the selected developer will have to agree a profit share with Wicklow County Council. The council has used the commercial potential of the project, residential and retail, to lure developers to invest in renewing the infrastructure of the harbour and the coastline.