Wicklow Co Council's acceptance of funding from private developers to build new roads and an interchange on the N11 would not compromise its stance on subsequent planning applications from those developers, according to the council manager, Mr Eddie Sheehy.
Housing, shops and developments estimated to be worth €1.25 billion are awaiting the construction of the interchange near Kilpedder and a new access road by-passing Delgany village and recently rezoned lands at Charlesland and south of Greystones.
At a recent council meeting the manager told councillors a consortium of property developers - including Zapi Properties, which has plans for almost 1,500 homes on land to be served by the new road - had come forward with the funding proposal.
The developers are offering to put up the money for the interchange now, recouping it from the National Roads Authority (NRA) in about 2004, and finish the Delgany by-pass as well as a proposed new road south of Greystones. This latter element would be deducted by the developers from development levies charged by the council.
However a number of members of the council expressed concern about the scheme after it was initially revealed in The Irish Times. Chief among the concerns were that the arrangement would leave the council short of development levies to fund improvements in Greystones village which would have to bear the brunt of the increase in population.
But councillors also expressed concern that the agreement would mean developers, once they have paid for infrastructure, would have an automatic expectation of planning permission from the county council. It was feared that the arrangement would undermine the independence of the planning authority when it came to assessing developers' projects.
However Mr Sheehy told councillors at last week's meeting they need have no such fears.
While he confirmed he had given the council's agreement in principle to the scheme, he said there would be no guarantees of planning permission for any developer who funded the roads.
However The Irish Times understands there may be another hurdle before the innovative public/private partnership can go ahead - the timescale for repayment of funding by the NRA for the interchange on the N11.
The NRA has said the interchange is one of its approved projects but it was not one of the schemes to be included for funding in 2002. It is hopeful of having the money in 2003, or even in 2004, but it cannot guarantee what its allocation from Government is likely to be in the years ahead.