The Irish Times

An Bord Pleanála has approved a €300 million marina, residential and commercial redevelopment scheme for Greystones harbour in Co Wicklow. Work on replacing the crumbling Victorian harbour is expected to get under way later this year, with public facilities costing €50 million to be provided in the first phase of the development. An Bord Pleanála has also approved compulsory purchase orders for some 70 acres of foreshore and beachside property on which 341 new homes and about 5,500 square metres of commercial units are to be provided. The scheme is being developed jointly by Wicklow County Council and its private sector partners Park Developments and John Sisk, collectively known as the Sispar consortium. Approving the scheme, An Bord Pleanála imposed 13 conditions, none of which are expected to be too onerous on the developers. An Bord Pleanála overturned just one recommendation of the inquiry inspector, that an old local authority dump on site be dug up and disposed of elsewhere. An Bord Pleanála said the former dump could be best contained on site. Giving its decision, the board said it had regard to the provisions of the county and local area development plans, the central location of the site, the character of neighbouring developments and the nearby Dart line.