Wicklow County Council has selected a "preferred bidder" to build a 230 berth marina and marina village at Greystones Harbour.
The council announced yesterday that it had chosen the Sispar consortium, made up of house builders Park Developments and civil engineering company Sisk, for the €300 million rejuvenation of the harbour, which dates from 1886.
Included in the plans are 6,400 sq metres of commercial, mainly marine related units, a boardwalk and a 15 acre public park with about 375 houses and apartments.
It is intended that the apartment element will finance the building of the new marina, remedial works on the existing harbour and facilities for a host of current harbour users who will have to be relocated.
Among the clubs and facilities to be relocated are the Greystones Sailing Club, a local angling club, swimming and diving clubs, a rowing club and a public slipway.
Access to the Greystones to Bray cliff walk is also to be relocated.
The council said it will move ahead immediately with compulsory purchase orders for 79 acres including 35 acres of foreshore. A public inquiry into the purchase orders could be held as early as next month. A spokesman said construction could begin next spring with the work expected to be finished by 2011.
Under the terms of the public-private partnership the council would acquire the land and give it to Sispar, which would then develop the houses and apartments and sell them on the open market.
In return Sispar would undertake the public elements of the scheme, including the restoration of existing walls and piers in the harbour which are suffering from decay. Sispar would also develop the marina and manage it for about 25 years before it reverts to council ownership.
Speaking at the announcement in the Marriott Hotel in Druid's Glen yesterday, Wicklow county manager Eddie Sheehy described the project as "the most exciting development currently proposed for Co Wicklow and one which holds out the prospect of a landmark development of the highest quality for the town of Greystones".
The harbour at Greystones started deteriorating shortly after it was built. It is subject to easterly storms and the east pier is in particularly poor condition.
Local councillor and former mayor of Greystones Derek Mitchell who has campaigned for the development, said "a do nothing situation with the harbour is not an option" due to its poor condition.
However, the development has attracted opposition from some harbour users concerned at the scale of the apartment building.
