Co Wicklow Harbour Project 'Washed-up'

Unsightly hoardings and rough grass over areas of the incomplete Greystones harbour development in Co Wicklow are to be removed after the development company Sispar admitted the project had stalled.

Major landside engineering work at the harbour has been put on hold and existing loans for the project transferred to the bad debts agency, Nama.

While the major marine engineering works are complete - at a cost to Sispar of about €80m - there is uncertainty about the timing of the provision of five new clubhouses for harbour users, a Coast Guard station, completion of a 270-berth marina, commercial space, a public park and a new town square.

The Irish Times has reported that Sispar is understood to be considering the proposals to reopen some areas and cover them in grass, as well as landscaping, pending a final timescale for completion of the project.


However, Sispar is understood to have concerns about the cost of the landscaping, and about potential issues of health and safety, including Wicklow County Council's position as the holder of public liability.

A number of politicians have supported calls for the reopening and removal of at least some of the hoardings.

Sispar and the councillors have now agreed to set up a committee to discuss the issues raised by reopening the harbour as an attempt to redesign the project to include more housing brought sharp criticism from An Bord Pleanála.

The council, which is a partner in the development, had hoped to allow Sispar increase the number of new homes in the development.

But in a determination that increasing the number of new homes would require a new Environmental Impact Assessment, an An Bord Pleanála inspector said: "I declare a concern about the level of inconsistency and ambiguity on the exact quantum of commercial and residential development proposed on the overall Greystones harbour site. I consider it unreasonable to expect the board to comprehensively assess a proposal, which has not been satisfactorily presented to the board. In addition, I consider that these possible inaccuracies may provide a misleading account to the public."

(BMcC/GK)