Greystones is moving on
Published: 10 November, 2006
A controversial new local area plan has been agreed by local councillors for the Greystones area of north Co Wicklow, close to Bray.
Wicklow county councillors took 10 hours to reach an agreement, which now goes forward for public consultation. They agreed to rezone the Charlesland industrial site 2.5km outside Greystones so that retail and residential development can proceed. The land is owned by development company Zapi and had been zoned for integrated employment and community services. Proposed developments by Zapi included a 20,000 sq m shopping centre and 16,000 sq m of retail warehousing as well as 210 residential units.
Councillor Derek Mitchell, mayor of Greystones, favoured the move, saying the developers are going to build community and enterprise centres, with part of the latter going to the local Chamber of Commerce to help start up businesses at reduced rents.
However, not everyone was in favour. Local Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca said the rezoning was the worst kind of developer-led planning and would "destroy the retail base of the town".
