Wicklow County Council refuses permission for 666-home scheme at Kilbride, Arklow, Co. Wicklow

In context

It is one of 107 housing scheme applications Wicklow County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,561 nationally. Of the 3,032 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 79% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 16 July 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Wicklow County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

demolition of 3 no. structures on site including a 2-storey habitable house (total GFA 207 sq.m) and 2 no. sheds/outbuildings (c.580 sq.m). Closures of 2 no. existing entrances onto the Kilbride Road (L-6179). Construction of a new residential development and local centre comprising: 666 no. units (578 no. semi-detached and terraced housing (100 no. 2 beds, 317 no. 3 beds, 161 no. 4 beds) and 88 no. apartments and duplex apartments (24 no. 1 beds, 51 no. 2 beds and 13 no. 3 beds)). All residential units will have associated private open space facing north/ south/ east/ west. The proposal will also include a local centre (c. 2335 sq.m) comprising a creche (c.1,095sqm) with outdoor play area, 3 no. community/medical units (c.450 sq.m), and 3 no. retail units (c.790sq.m). Building heights within the development will range from one to five storeys. The development will include streets, pedestrian/cycle links, open spaces/parks (with play areas) and will include amendments to the permitted open spaces and access road granted as part of the Phase 1/Character Area 1a development (WCC Reg. Ref.: 23/756 on the subject lands. The development will also include a public boardwalk/bridge for pedestrians and cyclists from the development across Arklow Town Marsh and the Avoca River to the Arklow Riverwalk north of Arklow Town Car Park and the Town Centre, with the bridge element (and associated works) across the Avoca River constructed atop the concrete columns (debris traps) permitted as part of the Arklow Flood Relief Scheme (Planning Ref. ABP-310368-21). All associated site development works, site reprofiling, infrastructural and drainage works, surface water attenuation and natural attenuation areas, connection to public services and utilities (including undergrounding of ESB lines), provision of substations, bin stores, bicycle stores, car and cycle parking at surface and undercroft levels, public lighting, landscaping and planting, public/communal/private open spaces and boundary treatment works. This development will form part of the designated Kilbride Action Area Plan AAP3