Council officials back retention of site with no planning permit

OFFICIALS of Wicklow County Council are to propose a material contravention of the county development plan to accommodate a development which has no planning permission and whose owner is about to face committal proceedings.

On June 9th next councillors are due to consider granting permission for the retention of buildings belonging to Abwood Homes, on the western side of the N11 outside Newtownmountkennedy.

Last year the council won a case in the High Court against Forest Fencing Ltd, trading as Abwood Homes, and its owner, George Smullen, following which Mr Smullen was ordered to clear the site by April this year.

As the site has not been cleared, as directed, the council's solicitors have been asked to prepare attachment and committal proceedings. The council is currently awaiting a court date, according to senior executive officer Sheila O'Leary.

However, on April 18th, in a public notice, the council advised that it would consider granting an application for the retention of two of the three buildings on the site, which was the subject of a High Court ruling.

The retention application, from Mr Smullen, would materially contravene the county development plan, as the location is not zoned for industrial use. The final decision rests with the councillors.

Financial controller for Abwood Breda Hamilton said she was "amazed" when told of the intention to initiate proceedings. "We discussed retention with the council on a reduced scale . . . and at the same time they want to knock it down before they grant retention."

In his judgment last year Mr Justice Peter Charleton described the existing Abwood buildings as a major development for which there was no planning permission. "It is in material contravention of the Co Wicklow Development Plan. It is built entirely to suit the developer and with almost no reference to legal constraint."

Mr Justice Charleton noted that the county development plan aimed to protect green belt areas between expanding towns and to encourage industrial development within towns and villages.

While the Abwood development could possibly be in conformity with the county plan if it had been sited in a heavily-wooded area, it seemed to him, the judge said, that it could not be acceptable in the current site. "It has, as a matter of fact, turned the green belt corridor area between towns into a stretch of industrial and commercial usage."

However, the council's planning department has decided that the development, as now proposed, does not "unduly impact" on the area.

"Having examined the submitted documentation and the site, it was considered that the development, as proposed, did not unduly impact on the amenities of the rural area and adjoining residential amenities," Ms O'Leary said.

"Regard was had to the scale and design of the proposed structures and to the proposed use. Regard was also had to the employment-generating nature of the development and its accessibility to the national road network.

"In the light of previous planning history it is the council's opinion that there are planning grounds to proceed further with this application."

The council said that the planning authority had initiated enforcement proceedings against the Abwood operation as no permission had been granted for it.

"However, in assessing the current application, the previous enforcement proceedings and existence of unauthorised development would not have been a material consideration in assessing the planning application. This planning application had to be assessed on its own merits in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."

The latest filed accounts for Forest Fencing show that it made a pre-tax profit of €930,662 in 2006, a significant jump on the €222,987 it made in the previous year.

The Irish Times

www.buckplanning.ie

Humewood Castle plan appealed

AN TAISCE IS opposing a €250 million tourism and recreational development proposed for Humewood Castle demesne in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow saying it would impact on the architectural and historic significance of the Humewood demesne.

Developer John Lally was granted planning permission by Wicklow County Council to turn the 19th century Gothic pile into a five-star hotel with a leisure centre and spa and part of the 450-acre estate into a resort with 89 tourist lodges, an 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse.

In its appeal to An Bord Pleanála, An Taisce says Humewood Castle is the most significant surviving Victorian country house in Ireland and was the only Irish house to feature in The Victorian Country House by Mark Girouard. "The proposal replicates a form, which has now been well-established over the last 20 years, of acquiring Irish country house estates and development vehicles of which the Ryder Cup-hosting K-club has become the best known example and turning them into American country club-inspired golf hotel-oriented developments with residential units for sale to investors," says the appeal.

An Taisce says it has expressed its preference in discussions with the developer that Humewood Castle be turned into a heritage property comparable to Tyntesfield outside Bristol.

It says the development involves a scale of development and landscape impact "which is injurious to the combined architectural and historic significance of the Humewood demesne, and contravenes Ireland's adoption of the European landscape convention and the Florence charter by reason of its location and number of residential units and the impact of the golf course on the designed landscape". The former owner of Humewood Castle was socialite Renata Coleman who reportedly paid less than £1 million for it in 1992.

The Irish Times

www.buckplanning.ie

Wicklow harbour set for huge development

A €300m contract has been signed for the redevelopment of Greystones Harbour in Co. Wicklow.

The development will include a new marina, public square, apartment complex, restaurants and shops.

Wicklow County Council has said it will revitalise what is now a derelict harbour in the town.

Sispar Developments has been awarded the contract.

Sunday Business Post

www.buckplanning.ie

Wicklow harbour set for huge development

A €300m contract has been signed for the redevelopment of Greystones Harbour in Co. Wicklow.

The development will include a new marina, public square, apartment complex, restaurants and shops.

Wicklow County Council has said it will revitalise what is now a derelict harbour in the town.

Sispar Developments has been awarded the contract.

Sunday Business Post

www.buckplanning.ie