A €2 billion development for Bray has been approved by Bray Town Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
The Bray town centre development includes shops, office space, recreational amenities and housing. Construction is scheduled to begin next year.
Pizarro Developments, the consortium behind the project, welcomed the decisions by the two local authorities last night.
The core of the development will front on to the Dargle river. It will involve 50,000sq m of shops; an eight-screen cinema; 12 bars, restaurants and cafes; a 103-bedroom hotel; 347 apartments and duplexes; 5,500sq m of offices; creches, doctors and dentists surgeries and 3,090 underground car parking spaces.
The "seafront residential neighbourhood" aspect of the plan includes 575 apartments, duplexes and town houses; convenience stores; a community building and a creche. The plan also includes a village green and a seaside park. Some 18 acres will be set aside for a public park, a GAA facility and schools.
However, the development is being opposed by some local residents who say it will cause severe flooding.
Pizarro Developments said the development was linked to a flood protection scheme along the river. The plan is being designed by Bray Town Council and will be submitted for approval to An Bord Pleanála.
The Pizarro consortium is backed by developers including Paddy Kelly, Durkan New Homes, the Newlyn Group and Pierse Construction Ltd.
Bray Chamber of Commerce welcomed the approval of the plan. Spokesman Jason Cooke called on Bray Town Council to put new infrastructure in place to support the project, including a bridge linking the development with the existing town centre and for the proposed Luas extension to Bray to be incorporated into the development.
