Wicklow council warned on N11 development

WICKLOW COUNTY councillors will be briefed today on a warning they may be forced to amend their county development plan over the rezoning of 87 hectares (209 acres) in rural areas close to the N11.

The warning came in a letter, dated October 1st, on behalf of Minister of State for Planning Ciarán Cuffe to Wicklow county manager Eddie Sheehy. It is the second time Mr Cuffe has written to the council in three months in relation to the recently adopted County Development Plan 2010-2016.

Mr Cuffe particularly mentions proposals for a data centre development on a site adjacent to Mount Kennedy House, near Newtownmountkennedy, which is alongside the N11 in the north of the county.

Noting that similar concerns had been raised by the National Transport Authority and the National Roads Authority, the letter says the Minister was aware of the need for inward investment and employment in Co Wicklow.

However, it says, Mr Cuffe is concerned that the location of the proposed six-building data centre could “significantly undermine” the role of “higher order” employment centres in the county.

Mr Cuffe’s letter notes the concerns raised by the transport authorities regarding safety and efficiency of the national road network and national policy, which is to protect the large-scale investment in the road network.

The letter also reminds councillors that “local authorities have a duty when making/amending plans to ensure that the future development of their areas is based on sound planning principles.”

As well as the Newtownmountkennedy site, there are six other locations where land was rezoned close to the N11, the letter claims, accounting for 87 hectares of industrial use lands in rural areas.

The Minister’s letter comes as councillors are scheduled to hear a presentation from Brian McDonagh, one of the backers of the data centre, this afternoon. Mr McDonagh is expected to urge the councillors to retain the rezoning in relation to his proposal.

Mr McDonagh told The Irish Times he believed his proposal would improve the road network in the area as it incorporated a new 1.1km access road linking the development to the Ballyroan roundabout on N11.

This road would include a cycle track and a footpath and closure of the existing direct access to the N11 from Mount Kennedy House, which is a protected structure.

Mr McDonagh said the new road would make it possible for locals to cycle to school without accessing the N11, as is currently the situation.

However Wicklow County Council planners and management opposed the rezoning before the adoption of the County Development Plan on September 6th last.

The council staff had a report from planning and transport consultants Colin Buchanan and Partners as far back as February 2001, which found the Ballyroan roundabout was insufficient to cater for industrial development in the area.

On a previous proposal for a business park at Mount Kennedy Demesne, the report concluded the development potential of the lands was “limited” in the absence of a total reconstruction of the roundabout.

Mr Cuffe concludes his letter by warning councillors it is open to him to use his powers “to direct the council to amend the plan” if he is not satisfied with specific answers to questions he raises.