Another 22 Houses For Delgany

The Defigo Holdings application…

ith the developer frenzy in Delgany and Greystones now recognised nationally as a one or ten housing estates too far, the tide seemed to be turning down at Wicklow Planning last summer.

With groundwork having started on the Carmelite estates, and the Gorteen, Riverfield and Struan Hill builds nearing completion, the omnipresent Cairnstones were refused 98 houses at Coolagad in May 2023 and soon after, The Glebe paused.

Defigo’s plans…

Heck, it felt as though even An Bord Pleanála might finally be seeing the light at the end of all this housing tunnel vision. And both Style Bawn House and Honeybrook Cottage were shown a little mercy.

And when Defigo Holdings 1 Delgany Ltd’s application to build 22 units on Chapel Road was refused by Wicklow Planning last July, the seeds of sanity appeared to have been well and truly sown.

Might having the head of Wicklow Planning walking amongst here in Greystones – incognito, of course – finally beginning to pay off…?

Except that Defigo have now gotten the go-ahead on their second application. Details of planning application no.23814 read…

To construct a residential scheme which will consist of 22 no. dwelling units and which will comprise of the following:- (a) the demolition of an existing habitable single storey dwelling house with associated works, (b) 3no. three storey, with habitable dormer space to the second floor, five bedroom detached dwelling units, (c) 1no. two storey four-bedroom detached dwelling unit. (d) 10no. two storey four-bedroom semi-detached dwelling units, (e) 8no. two storey, three bedroom terraced dwelling units. (f) ancillary vehicular and pedestrian access to include the use of an existing and permitted access from the public road, (g) the provision of public open space including ancillary hard and soft landscaping, (h) ancillary car parking, public lighting, and utilities. (i) connection to public services including foul water connection, public water mains connection and surface water drainage with associated attenuation systems, (j) associated boundary treatments, (k) ancillary works.

Back in July 2023, the three refusal points were based on Objectives CPO 13.21 and 13.22 (WCC seeking to ensure the implementation of Sustainable Urban Drainage System) and insufficient details demonstrating development would be acceptable in terms of road safety. Finally, the design of House Type B’s two bedrooms at second floor being served only by roof lights not ‘an acceptable level of residential amenity for future occupiers, contrary to Objectives CPO 6.3, 6.4’.

And now, the conditions for the go-ahead comprise of the developer coughing up €230,168 for public infrastructure and facilities, no development being allowed to commence until the cash security of €240,000 for the provision of and satisfactory completion of open space, roads, footpaths, storm water sewers, etc, and the first occupant of any residential unit shall be individual purchasers or by those eligible for the occupation of social and/or affordable housing. Beyond that, there’s the usual confirmation of land ownership being signed and sealed, a full and detailed construction environmental management plan, a suitably qualified archaeologist being on site, etc agus etc.

You can find planning application no.23814 here, their plans here, and more housing news here.