Deputy Steven Matthews has emphasised the need to preserve Wicklow’s rich architectural heritage in the planning process following the issuing of an Enforcement Order requiring that two historical cottages on Church Road, Greystones, be restored to their original state.
Speaking on this issue, Deputy Matthews said:
“I submitted a Planning Enforcement Complaint to Wicklow County Council on behalf of a concerned Greystones resident and advised them of the planning process when they raised concerns that St Helena Cottage and Mentone/Bethnell Cottage on Church Road in Greystones had been demolished without planning permission. I welcome the decision of Wicklow County Council to issue an Enforcement Order requiring the full restoration of the cottages to their original state.
“It is important that all developers strictly follow the conditions set out in the planning process to ensure that Wicklow’s architectural heritage is protected. In this case, the structures of both cottages were removed despite the planning permission only allowing minor modifications to the facades.
“The Enforcement Order requires the developers to re-construct both cottages within sixteen weeks and I will be following-up with the local authority to ensure that this is implemented. These cottages were prime examples of cottages from the late Victorian era and demonstrated significant architectural value in Greystones. I look forward to their full restoration in the coming months.
“All proposed developments must consider the need to preserve our natural, historical and architectural heritage. This is particularly important in Wicklow which has a significant number of heritage sites”, Deputy Steven Matthews concluded.
Comments