Look to the skies…
iven just how proud Wicklow County Council are of their green credentials, it’s 
surprising that they’re not a little bit more committed to their own planning decisions.
iven just how proud Wicklow County Council are of their green credentials, it’s 
surprising that they’re not a little bit more committed to their own planning decisions.Especially when they’re getting great big awards for their sterling eco warrior work.
An example popped up on our radar last month, when D:Res Properties, the developers behind the new Gorteen development on Delgany’s Bellevue Hill, applied for some changes to their original planning permission.
An example popped up on our radar last month, when D:Res Properties, the developers behind the new Gorteen development on Delgany’s Bellevue Hill, applied for some changes to their original planning permission.Changes that, by and large, would save the developer a little moolah.
And right in there amongst the requests for removing of all chimney structures from all house types, changing proposed precast concrete window cills to all windows with alluminium-pressed metal cills, removal of hardwood canopy structures from some house types and replacing proposed metal stranding seam to dormer windows, projections and canopies with concrete tiles finish is the line…
Removal of proposed PV/Solar panels from all house types.
Which makes you wonder, eh, what the absolute feck? All these requests were given the thumbs up from Wicklow County Council.
We emailed Michael Lynch, the WCC planner listed on application #211426, to try and get a statement as to why 
all of these changes were granted, and, over the next four days, answer came there none. Ditto D:Res, who we emailed twice about these late-in-the-game changes.
all of these changes were granted, and, over the next four days, answer came there none. Ditto D:Res, who we emailed twice about these late-in-the-game changes.So, we forwarded out lonely missives to our good friend Jackie Carroll, Senior Executive Officer of Planning, Development and Environment at Wicklow County Council.
Council of the Year!
5 comments
From Keith Scanlon…
Good questions Paul. I objected that this was not a minor detail re finishing and surfaces and WCC got Developers to clarify with a few lines of text (because they can – they have heat exchange units & can comply to minimum requirements without putting in the Solar Panels). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of course…….
Why are no community energy solutions even thought of or asked about? Why are existing community energy pilots (e.g. in Glenasmole in S Dublin) not even being encouraged or even talked about? Why are we designing housing like individual fast moving luxury consumer goods rather than communities / extensions of existing communities? Why are provision of WCC public services totally led by developers and depending on allowing them bend Local Area Plans and write-off any existing trees and nature on sites as inevitable unfortunate casualties rather than design to include them? Why are Climate & Biodiversity Impact Assessments optional (unless>500 houses) and these WCC officers not even consulted in planning? Why are planners allowed admit they are not trained in planning for climate & biodiversity but still fail to consult their colleagues who are? Why are we still not planning our public realms like UK towns and villages are rather than leaving it to Developers and volunteers?
Why are we using the excuse of We need more (of the same) houses when they are totally unaffordable for most young (and middle aged) professional couples and many have to move out to Wexford? Why is there little effective planning happening rather than leaving it to market forces and light touch regulation (which has not succeeded to date)?
Why is there literally no plan to survive / sustain Wicklow County and its liveability & Community wellbeing for more than 6 years when proper planning needs at least a 10 year view and a 100 year view?….. why don’t we try to get a Co. Wicklow sustainable development plan?
Hi, thank you for highlighting this issue. To answer the question, I have been told that it was probably an old planning application and the developer doesn’t need solar panels to comply with the regulations any more. The houses will still be built to an A2 standard but will probably use heat pumps instead of solar panels to hit the renewable energy requirements.
Would have been nice to get just such a reply from Wicklow County Council…
Hi Paul,
Speaking of Bellevue Hill and the development mentioned above, do you know if there are any plans to provide a footpath down the rest of the hill or like priory rd are we left with a path to nowhere.
Thanks
Down as far as Dooley’s/golf gates, from what we’ve been told…