Developers plan major changes in Blessington

One of the largest planning applications to come before Wicklow County Council in recent years is to be lodged by a consortium of property developers.

The application for what amounts to a new town centre at Blessington is being lodged in the name of Cookehill Limited, a company whose directors are the Dublin based property developer Mr Bill Mulrooney and Mr Brendan Fitzsimons.

Envisaged is a mixed-use development of more than 33,000 sq m with 12,632 sq m of covered parking on a 14-acre site at Blessington Demesne.

Also envisaged is an 82-bedroom hotel and leisure centre with restaurants and bars, a three-storey civic building, change of use of an existing building known as O'Leary's House to 226 sq m of offices, a commercial block to include a supermarket with eight units, three apartment blocks with retail units, a business centre, a 156-seat community theatre, four residential blocks comprising 58 units, a creche, a nursing home and a terrace of 21 townhouses. The 1999 Wicklow County Development Plan provides for town centre zoning in Blessington, although the size of the proposed development may conflict with the Strategic Planning Guidelines as it would exceed the definition of "local need".

According to Mr Bryan Doyle of Wicklow County Council the development had been mooted for some time. "As I understand it, the development included extra playing pitches and community facilities as a result of public consultation meetings which were held in Blessington." Mr Doyle said the council had been engaged in pre-planning discussions which centered on the broad design and lay-out of the scheme. Provision had been made for a relief road and Duchas had made a number of suggestions in relation to heritage matters.

The application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Other shareholders in Cookehill include Kevin and Killian Fitzsimons of Glasnevin, Mr Barry Brennan of Cowper Road and Mr David Coleman at Lavelle Coleman solicitors, Fitzwilliam Square. Mr Patrick Thomas Shine, Mr Tony O'Hora, Mr John Levins and two companies, Fleetwater Ltd, and Cova Properties are listed as shareholders.