A Greg Kavanagh firm has secured planning permission for contentious plans for an 84 unit residential scheme in the Co Wicklow village of Delgany despite local opposition.
This follows Wicklow Co Council granting planning permission to Mr Kavanagh's Beaksonshaw Hill Ltd for 84 dwellings made up of 50 apartments in two blocks, 26 houses and eight units in the refurbished Kindlestown House off Chapel Rd, Delgany.
The Kavanagh firm initially lodged plans for 85 units across three apartment blocks with one five storeys and the permission is for a scaled down apartment component comprising of two apartment blocks rising to four storeys.
In granting planning permission, the Council has used new powers available to planning authorities to prevent a repeat of a Ryanair-style block purchase of homes where the airline recently confirmed it purchased 25 properties in a housing estate in Swords, north Dublin.
In one of the conditions attached to the permission, the Council has ordered that the first occupation of the dwellings be by individual purchasers only or those eligible for social housing.
The Council stated that it was including this condition in order to restrict new housing development to use by persons of a particular class or description in order to ensure an adequate choice and supply of housing, including affordable housing, in the common good.
The planning authority granted planning permission after concluding that the revised scheme accords with the overall strategy for the development of the lands and that the scheme would not result in a negative adverse impact in terms of amenity, noise, traffic or result in a deterioration of the natural and built heritage.
Mr Kavanagh has been in the spotlight recently concerning a High Court row with his brother, Hugh Kavanagh - the Arklow born brothers’ 17 year partnership collapsed in acrimonious circumstances four years ago.
In response to the revised scheme, chairman of Delgany Community Council, Paul Armstrong called on the council to refuse planning permission.
Mr Armstrong contended that two apartment blocks are still not permitted on this site under the Local Area Plan and will have an overbearing impact on Kindlestown House, a protected structure.
Mr Armstrong argued that the site is not suitable for large scale development because of its location and the presence of other constraints such as a Protected Structure.
He stated that "the level of housing in the Greystones/Delgany area now well exceeds its ability to cope and of the provision of better public transport, local employment and as well as additional community services all need to be prioritised ahead of this type of large scale development on an important built and natural heritage site".
The site abuts a new housing development, Churchlands, to the east which is currently under construction for around 120 dwellings.
A planning report lodged with the application states that the subject site "is located in an urban edge of centre location, which is already undergoing substantial development".
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
