Oral hearing on Greystones harbour in March

Bord Pleanála has set a date for an oral hearing into plans for the redevelopment of Greystones harbour in Co Wicklow, with more than 6,200 objections to the scheme already received by the board.

The majority of the objections are understood to take exception to the number of apartments, at 375, which are proposed. A number of objections were made on traffic grounds, construction traffic and disruption.

The €300 million development is being advanced by Wicklow County Council in conjunction with its private sector partners John Sisk and Company and Park Developments.

Sisk and Park Developments have formed the Sispar consortium and the council is currently acquiring land around the harbour by compulsory purchase for the apartment and commercial elements.

In return they will refurbish the granite pier harbour which is derelict, provide new facilities for existing harbour users as well as a 230-berth marina, a new beach and a public park.

Subject to approval from the board and confirmation of compulsory purchase orders for land adjacent to the foreshore, work could get under way as early as this summer. Construction work is expected to take four years.

The issue has become increasingly acrimonious, with the town council overwhelmingly in favour of the scheme while many local residents - particularly those in the harbour area whose views of the Sugarloaf and the sea will be obscured - are opposed.

The Greystones Protection and Development Association which is leading opposition said the public private partnership model was being misused in a development of this kind.

The association has argued that the PPP model is intended for essential infrastructure such as roads and railways, but not for property deals involving public property being assigned to developers for private housing.

In return, members of Greystones Town Council supported by the Harbour Users Groups (Hugs) have argued that while few people want 375 apartments in the harbour, the return in terms of public facilities, makes the development attractive.

They argue that without immediate remedial or restorative measures the existing harbour is in danger of falling into the sea. Councillors point out that the current proposal evolved only after two decades of negotiation.

The oral hearing, to take place on Thursday, March 30th will open in the Royal Hotel, Bray, at 10am.