2560090
69no. residential dwellings (total), in a mix of 35no. 2-3 storey terraced houses (28no. 3-bed, 4no. 4-bed & 3no. 5-bed) and 3no. 3- storey duplex blocks containing 17no. 2-bed apartments and 17no. 3-bed duplex units. All associated and ancillary site development, landscaping and boundary treatment works, including: PV solar panels on roof of all houses and duplex blocks, public, communal and private open space; surface water drainage detention basin; public lighting; 132no. surface car parking spaces; 92no. bicycle parking spaces (including 72no. spaces in 3no. bike stores); bin stores; new vehicular, cycle and pedestrian site access via the Blessington Inner Relief Road (BIRR) permitted under Wicklow County Council Reg. Ref. 23689, and pedestrian and cycle path facilitating potential future connection to Woodleigh Avenue. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and accompanies this application
Core Refusal Reason
The development represents a breach of the Core Strategy as housing targets for Blessington have already been exceeded, and the proposal is premature pending the completion of the Blessington Inner Relief Road.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed development would breach the Core Strategy of the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028, as housing targets for the Blessington settlement for 2028 and 2031 have already been significantly exceeded by existing completions and extant permissions.
- The project is considered premature pending the final design, construction, and commissioning of the Blessington Inner Relief Road (BIRR), which is essential for providing safe vehicular and pedestrian access to the site.
- The development of peripheral greenfield lands outside the existing built-up footprint of the settlement is inconsistent with national and regional policies regarding compact growth and the sequential approach to residential development.