Construction of the controversial €300 million redevelopment scheme for Greystones harbour in Co Wicklow is to begin next week, Wicklow County Council has said.
The contract for the project, which includes a new harbour and marina, as well as substantial commercial and residential development, was signed by the council and its private partner Sispar on New Year's Eve.
The intention is to allow construction to get under way at the earliest possible date as the objective is to replace the crumbling Victorian harbour.
However, opponents of large-scale development of the harbour have urged the council not to rush in to the construction of apartments and shops which could be left vacant and become derelict.
The project was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála last August, following two oral hearings and despite the receipt by the board of more than 9,000 objections.
The council originally put its plans for the redevelopment, which was to include 6,400sq m (68,889sq ft) of commercial, mainly marine-related units, a 15-acre park and a 230-berth marina with a public slipway, on public display in 2001.
The planning board's hearing into the proposed development was opened in April 2006, but was deferred when the board asked the council to resubmit its plans, reducing housing and deleting apartment blocks close to Victorian housing in the area.
The revised development will include a 230-berth marina, 341 residential units and 5,500sq m of commercial units, incorporating cafes and restaurants. There will also be "substantial" private parking, the council said.
County manager Eddie Sheehy said: "This €300 million project, which includes public facilities to a value of more than €50 million, will mean that the existing derelict harbour will be rejuvenated to become an integral part of the town. I am confident that this will be regarded as one of the most visionary and innovative public private partnership projects ever undertaken in the State."
However, Greystones Protection and Development Association, which opposed the scheme, said that commercial premises were already lying vacant in Greystones and the council could be left with a costly white elephant.
Association spokeswoman Evelyn Cawley said: "We are warning the council to be cautious. The downturn in the economy will mean that there is less demand for apartment life and they can't deliver the volume of housing they are planning and expect it to be occupied. They need to re-examine whether this is the right time to be doing this."
The association wanted to see the proper redevelopment of Greystones harbour and would be monitoring the progress of the development to ensure that community facilities were provided, even if the residential or commercial aspects were scaled down, Ms Cawley said.
Meanwhile, a planning application for a €100 million retail, leisure and entertainment complex in Kildare town has been lodged with Kildare County Council.
The development will have 10,500sq m of retail space, six restaurants, a five-lane bowling alley, a 130-seat amphitheatre, a gym, a new town library and civic centre, skating park and two playgrounds on the 16-acre site of the former Black and Decker factory in the town.
