Councillors approve plan for 108 homes at Powerscourt

A plan for shops, offices and 108 holiday homes on the Powerscourt Estate near Enniskerry was approved by Wicklow county councillors yesterday.

Councillors had to decide whether to allow a material contravention of the Wicklow County Development Plan to facilitate the development in the grounds of the stately home.

Some 19 councillors voted in favour of the project, while four voted against it. The proposal needed 18 votes to be carried.

The Green Party councillor, Ms Deirdre de Búrca, voted against it, along with the Independent deputy Ms Mildred Fox, Fianna Fáil's Ms Eleanor Roche and Labour Party councillor Ms Anne Ferris.

Ms de Búrca said she was "very disappointed" with the outcome. She said she expected objections would be lodged to An Bord Pleanála.

She was pleased that all four councillors opposing the plan had similar concerns relating to traffic, the impact on local business and on the water and sewerage systems.

Fine Gael councillor, Mr George Jones, said the new development would bring huge benefits to the north Wicklow area.

The holiday homes would attract visitors who would spend money in the area, while more job opportunities would arise for local people.

The project was described as "very progressive" by the Fine Gael deputy Mr Billy Timmins.

"I'm delighted that it went through. It's a progressive project and it will be a great addition to the area," he said.

There was no one available to comment on behalf of the Slazenger family, the owners of the estate, last night.

Powerscourt is a listed structure which was designed by Richard Cassels and built in the 1730s. The house was destroyed by fire in 1974 but was then restored in the 1990s.

The grounds already house some up-market gift, furniture and clothes shops as well as a coffee shop and audio-visual exhibition on the house's history.

Opponents of the plan said the new shops would take business away from shops in Enniskerry and that the holiday homes would cause congestion in the already busy village.

In a letter to councillors earlier this year, Ms Sarah Slazenger who runs the estate, said the proposed development was essential in order to continue to support and maintain the house and gardens.