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Locals oppose 85 unit residential scheme for Delgany, Co Wicklow

Developer, Mr Kavanagh's Beaksonshaw Hill Ltd lodged plans with the council for 85 dwellings made up of 55 apartments and 30 houses
Developer, Mr Kavanagh's Beaksonshaw Hill Ltd lodged plans with the council for 85 dwellings made up of 55 apartments and 30 houses

Locals in the County Wicklow village of Delgany are opposing plans by a Greg Kavanagh firm to construct an apartment block scheme for the area.

Earlier this year, developer, Mr Kavanagh's Beaksonshaw Hill Ltd lodged plans with the council for 85 dwellings made up of 55 apartments and 30 houses for a site at Kindlestown House off Chapel Rd, Delgany.

However, the scheme is being opposed by some locals.

Chairman of Delgany Community Council, Paul Armstrong has told the Council that four and five storey apartment blocks are not permitted for the site under the Local Area Plan.

Mr Armstrong has stated that the level of housing in the Greystones/Delgany area "now well exceeds its ability to cope".

In the objection on behalf of the Community Council, Mr Armstrong states that the scheme "would result in the overdevelopment of the application site".

He states that in addition, the plot ratio density for the apartments is very high "and similar to a plot ratio one would expect for a site located close to a Dart Station".

Mr Armstrong further stated that the three four and five-storey apartment blocks "are incongruous and overbearing in relation to the protected structure, that is, Kindlestown House".

In one of the 19 submissions lodged with the Council, Delgany resident, Conor Steenson has told the council that he appreciates the efforts of the developer to improve the housing situation in the area.

He adds that he has concerns relating to the density of the development "which far exceeds the level of density in the surrounding area".

"Secondly, I am concerned about the lack of public transport in the area, which could lead to increased car dependency and traffic congestion if the proposed development were to go ahead," he says.

A planning report lodged with the planning application states that the proposed development "accords with the recommendations for increased density, building heights and diversity of house types".

"The recommendations in the National Framework, Ministered Guidelines and the recently adopted County Development plan all make repeated reference to the importance of infill sites in the achievement of the recommendations therein," the report states.

The site abuts a new housing development, Churchlands, to the east which is currently under construction for around 120 dwellings.

The report also states that the subject site "is located in an urban edge of centre location, which is already undergoing substantial development".

A decision is due on the application next week.

Reporting by Gordon Deegan