Wicklow County Council refuses permission for 54-home scheme at Bray, Co. Wicklow

In context

It is one of 108 housing scheme applications Wicklow County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,577 nationally. Of the 3,037 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 29 July 2026. 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 an existing dilapidated warehouse totalling c.291sqm and ancillary walls throughout the site, the reinstatement of the Old Chimney together with alterations to the boundaries of the site, and the construction of a mixed use residential development ranging from 2 storey over ground floor to 6 storey over ground floor in height as follows: Provision of 54 no. residential units, in the form of 2 no. new apartment and duplex buildings (Blocks 1 & 2), as follows: Block 1 (6 storey over ground floor) comprising 53 no. apartment and duplex units (1 no. studio unit, 4 no. 1-bed units, 29 no. 2-bed units & 19 no. 3 bed units, a tenant gym, a coffee shop and 2 no. office units). Block 2 (2 storey over ground floor) comprising 1 no. 3 bed unit and 1 no. bin store (c. 60 sqm) at ground level. Open space (c. 1116 sq. m) is proposed in the form of public open space (c. 690 sq. m) at podium level (Block 1), and residential communal open space (c. 426 sq. m) provided as a rooftop garden on top floor level of Block 1. Each residential unit is afforded with associated private open space in the form of balconies. The development will be served by 2 no. access/egress points for vehicular and pedestrian access to the east of the site via The L19545 Road (1 no. existing site access point & 1 no. new vehicular and pedestrian access point). An access point to the west of the site for emergency vehicles and pedestrians only is provided. Car park proposed on the ground floor level below podium. A total of 15 no. car parking spaces are proposed, which includes 12 no. spaces for residential units and 3 no. for the commercial units. A total of 178 no. bicycle spaces are proposed within Block 1, which includes 2 no. spaces for the commercial units. 1 no. ESB substation, 1 no. switch room, 1 no. cold water storage room & 1 no. sprinkler plant area are provided at ground floor level within Block 1. Bin Storage areas for the Block 1 & 2 are proposed at ground level within Block 2. All associated site and infrastructural works above and below ground to include provision for water services; foul and surface water drainage and connections; internal roads, attenuation proposal; permeable paving; all landscaping works including green infrastructure zones; green roofs; and general plant areas; landscaped boundary treatment; footpaths; public lighting; and electrical services