Notice of Confirmation Order by An Bord Pleanála of the
Wicklow County Council Compulsory Purchase (Chapel Road Pedestrian and Cycle Infrastructure Improvement Scheme) No. 1 Order 2021

 
An Bord Pleanála has, on the 22nd day of February, 2022, made a confirmation order confirming, with modifications, the above-named compulsory purchase order as respects the land described in the Schedule hereto. The said order, as so confirmed, authorises the County Council of the County of Wicklow to acquire the said land compulsorily. 

The Order as so confirmed will become operative at the expiration of three weeks from the date of publication of this notice. 

A copy of the order as so confirmed and of the map referred to in it (as modified) may be seen at all reasonable hours at the following locations:

• Wicklow County Council Office, County Buildings, Station Road, Wicklow.
• Greystones Municipal District Office, Mill Road, Greystones

On working days between the hours of 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm and the documents may be viewed online at www.wicklow.ie/living.  This website also contains a link to practical information on the review mechanisms of compulsory purchase orders.

An application for judicial review of the decision of the Board under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 15 of 1986) as amended by the Rules of the Superior Courts (Judicial Review) 2011 (S.I. 691 of 2011) may be made to the High Court within eight weeks of the date of publication of this Notice in accordance with section 50 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 as substituted by section 13 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006.

Dated this 16th day of May 2022
 
Leonora Earls,
Director of Service,
Transportation, Water & Emergency Services

Greystones in Co. Wicklow is a busy commuter town, in which a significant amount of traffic is travelling from south to north to make its way to Bray and the greater Dublin area on a daily basis. In addition, there is significant residential development accompanied by a growing school going population that is putting pressure on a road network that is currently not suitable and does not cater for a shift to more sustainable snd asctive modes of travel.

Chapel Road between Delgany and Blacklion is one such busy road section that has been under appraisal for some years. At present, the pedestrian and cycle facilities along this road do not form a coherent, attractive or safe experience, in particular, for young children travelling to and from school. St. Laurence’s National School is located along this road and the road currently experiences congestion during peak hour periods, particularly during school drop off and collection times.

A number of planning permissions have been granted over the years along this section of road which has brought about the completion of sections of the roadway on foot of developer led construction projects. While this has been welcomed it has resulted in a lack of continuity between each section completed. 

The project scope includes for the section of roadway between the Chapel Road and Convent Road Roundabout north to the Blacklion Manor Road (to tie into the Seagreen Housing Development). A section of this route is being delivered by D-RES Properties under Wicklow County Council Planning Ref 18/678.

This improvement scheme has been proposed for a number of years and is contained within the Greystones Local Area Plan 2013 – 2019.  It will benefit all road users and provide for the use of more sustainable modes of travel such as walking and cycling. A realignment and upgrade of the road would also allow for a bypass of St Laurence’s National School and provide a local access, leading to reduced congestion and an improvement in vehicular movements. 

The overall proposals comprise of an upgrade and realignment of this section of Chapel Road in order to improve vehicular movement along the road as well as to provide an improvement to the pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and experience. The road will have sufficient width to allow two-way traffic plus off road cycle paths and footpaths on both sides of the carriageway.

Wicklow County Council commenced the statutory Part 8 process with the publication of advertisements on 24 October 2019 and the closing date for public submissions was the 21st November 2019. The project, together with all public submissions and our comments thereon, was considered at the Council Meeting on 28 January 2020 and the Part 8 proposal was adopted by the County Council.   

In order to facilitate the commencement of this project and in the interest of expediancy it is proposed to acquire the lands required for the scheme by way of Compulsory Purchase Order. 

Documents relating to the compulsory purchase order are listed below.