Over €40m Development Levies For WCC Since 2020

Bellevue Hill DEC24

iven that house prices tend to be a tad more lucrative around here than most other parts of Wicklow, there’s a very good chance that Greystones and the surrounding area contribute heavily to Wicklow County Council’s bottom line.

And that bottom line is looking pretty darn good, with the local authority having collected €40,059,634 in development contributions over the past five years.

Ah, sure doesn’t it make all that congested traffic, lack of school places and proper infrastructure all worthwhile, knowing that the WCC gang have won the land concreting jackpot.

The revenue in question centres on Wicklow County Council’s Development Contribution Scheme and the Planning and Development Act 2000 to enable the planning authority to include conditions requiring the payment of a contribution when it comes to granting permission, all in the name of public infrastructure and facilities benefitting development in that area.

So, eh, hurrah for us. Some day.

Alas, the WCC gang can’t break down how much moolah has been collected from the various different Wicklow areas where planning permission was granted, ‘due to the volume of work that this would require‘.

Perhaps a quick front door count could give them a rough idea?

They could, however, reveal the contributions paid by the various developers in question, with our overlords Cairn Homes (Archers Wood, Hawkins Wood, Glenheron, One To Nine Priory and Coolagad here, plus Blessington’s Sorrel Wood) coughing up €5,643,769, D/Res Properties (Delgany’s Bellevue and Eastmount, Altidore Gardens in Newtown, Tinakilly Park in Rathnew and Ballinahinch in Ashford) contributing €2,790,938.

Also adding to Wicklow County Council’s coffers are Keldrum Ltd, with €1,853,747, and Wexford brothers Tom and Pat Redmond, with €1,830,508. Broomhall Estates Ltd, developer of Brookfield Park, Waverley Meadow and Kirvin Hill in Rathnew, paid €1,138,289, while Portella Developments Ltd contributed €1,070,593.

A little further down the ka-ching chain are Durkan Fairfield Developments Ltd (€657,133) and Durkan New Homes (€527,869), who brought us Fairfield and Sillan here plus Hawks Bay in Wicklow town and Vartry Wood in Ashford, whilst Glenveagh Homes and Glenveagh Homes Ltd contributed €942,174 and €484,648 respectively for developments at Broomhall and Ballynerrin in Rathnew, a nursing home and residential development in Blessington and Killincarrig Lodge here.

Other contributors include Ronan O’Caoimh (€668,600), Ardstone Homes (€690,644), Napier Ventures (€694,561), Townpark Estates Ltd (€794,244), Amazon Bay Ltd (€351,482), McEleney Homes (€305,723) and Shankill Property Investments Ltd (€298,965), plus €682,805 from Oakway Homes (developer of Ardview and Viewmount in Rathdrum), €430,932 from Ridgeway Homes Ltd (Avonmore View in Rathdrum), €425,637 from Lota View Holdings Ltd, €376,791 from Hollybawn Ltd and €372,338 from TD Housing Ltd.

Alongside affordable housing, road transport and safety, projects benefitting include the Arklow to Shillelagh and the Greystones to Wicklow greenways, plus the Blessington E Lake Loop, whilst industrial and economic developments include Greystones’ Enterprise Centre, Avondale Business Park, Dunlavin Industrial Park, Baltinglass Industrial Park and the Destination Town Scheme at Wicklow town’s Abbey Grounds.

Also on the nice list are recycling centres, burial grounds and fire services, including Baltinglass and Dunlavin Fire Stations, plus libraries, dog parks, the Blessington swimming pool and the Murrough masterplan, whilst agriculture, education, health and welfare projects include the Avoca River in Arklow, Wicklow Harbour URDF, Arklow Harbour URDF, Bray Harbour URDF, and that coastal protection that has kept The Cliff Walk closed for four years.

With that €40,059,634 to play with, Wicklow County Council will no doubt have our garden path back open by Paddy’s Day. Or else.