The housing and marina development proposed for Greystones, Co Wicklow, could revitalise the town, re-engaging it with seaside amenities in much the same way as Dún Laoghaire, Bray Esplanade or the Quays at Wexford, it was claimed yesterday by the architects.
It was also claimed that construction traffic for the four-year project could use the coastal route over Bray Head rather than accessing the site through the town's main street or primary shopping areas.
Giving evidence to the Bord Pleanála hearing into the proposed redevelopment scheme for the harbour, John O'Mahony of O'Mahony Pike Architects said there was now "a unique opportunity" to create a core marine amenity quarter which would enhance the existing character of the town in an "optimistic and sustainable way".
Mr O'Mahony described the current harbour and foreshore as "the remnant of a crumbling harbour, a haphazard beach and a backland squeezed between the eroding coastline and a continuous rail embankment".
But he said the new proposal, which was designed by his company in association with London-based Broadway Malyan Architects, had the potential to create for Greystones and its visitors "a unique yet contemporary marine quarter which will be vibrant, accessible, secure and diverse".
New amenities would far exceed the current ones and would include a better harbour beach, an enhanced coastal walk, a launching harbour and beach slips with additional community-club facilities, a 12-metre wide by 400-metre long boardwalk, an extensive marina, and new walks and viewing areas along the sea walls.
Mr O'Mahony said the harbour area was in a hollow and when viewed from the sea or from Bray Head, the four-storey apartments would be at a lower height than the nearby La Touche Hotel, which is scheduled to be replaced by four storeys of apartments.
He said the new development would comprise a mix of uses giving three distinct sections: the harbour and marina amenity area; the boardwalk, squares and promenade area; and the western residential area.
"Greystones is currently a seaside town without any of the benefits or amenities" Mr O'Mahony said.
Addressing the detailed architectural design, architect Michael Hussey, of O'Mahony Pike, said a new square would be created between Bayswater Terrace and the Beach House pub overlooking the harbour and the new buildings. This square would, he said, be predominantly pedestrian in character.
However, on questioning from planning inspector James Carroll, he acknowledged the square would be the main entrance for vehicles heading to and from the 375 new houses, the commercial elements and the proposed marina.
In relation to traffic volumes created by the construction of the development, Donal McDaid, of Arup Consulting Engineers, said a worst-case scenario would see 30 truck movements, 15 in each direction, in and out of the site. While the Greystones Southern Access Route will be open with limited capacity later this month, a new junction between it and the N11 would be fully operational by mid-2008 and it was likely this would relieve pressure of traffic in other areas.
The route would allow traffic to travel from the N11 to Greystones to Kilcoole Road and then, via Blacklion, to the harbour. However, this was not a preferred route for heavy traffic as it would take the construction traffic through the town's busy shopping area. The route from the N11 through Delgany would not be used by lorries.
