Fingal lodge planning permission for Bremore Regional Park

FINGAL County Council has announced it has lodged planning permission for the development of Bremore Regional Park, north of Balbriggan.

“Beginning in 2019, the council undertook extensive consultation with the local community with the goal of developing an ambitious shared vision for the future of Bremore Park,” the council says.

“Since then, despite the challenges posed by Covid 19, work began to refine that vison into detailed proposals.

“This was achieved through a series of online focus groups with stakeholders and national sporting bodies.”

The local authority says that these submitted plans focus on the park lands to the west of the rail-line and “the section of the park to the south-east.”

This encompasses over 15 hectares of land within the park.

“The project led by the council’s Parks and Green Infrastructure Division covers the key infrastructure required to upgrade Bremore to regional park status and to best serve the needs of the local community,” says the council.

“The park proposals have been designed to achieve the best fit between the provision of active and passive recreation and improved linkages to surrounding urban areas and taking a sensitive approach to the visual, historic and ecological attributes of the site.”

The project has been divided into three main categories, which are the Balbriggan Sports and Recreational Hub, Central Zone Open Spaces and The Coastal Park.

The Balbriggan Sports and Recreational Hub will “provide for a range of sporting activities as a shared public facility; these include athletics, all-weather football pitches with flood lighting; full size GAA pitch, soccer pitches, basketball courts, tennis courts, car park access and changing facilities.”

The Central Zone Open Spaces will consist of natural green spaces and play areas for children.

The central zone of Bremore Park has also ben designed to “improve access, circulation and permeability between adjacent residential areas, the park and the sea while enhancing the physical and natural amenity of the space.”

According to Fingal County Council, the proposed Coastal Park “aims to create a family orientated space which facilitates play, active recreation and social interaction.

“The existing playground and bandstand are supplemented with a skate bowl, grassed play-mounds and half-court basketball court which further animate this space.

“Soft landscaping of ornamental planting and trees will feature within a high-quality public realm with public lighting, street-furniture and bicycle parking.

“Seating areas will afford opportunities to sit, look and experience the sea.”

Mayor of Fingal councillor David Healy said the project will “enhance” the local area.

“The ambitious Bremore Regional Park Development project aims to provide a major recreational and sports amenity for the town’s young and growing population while enhancing the natural potential of the site in a manner that is sensitive to its natural and built heritage.

“It is fantastic to see the project progressing to the Part 8 planning application stage.”

The county council says that the development of Bremore Regional Park “is one of the key objectives of the ‘Our Balbriggan’ strategy, a community led initiative aimed at reimagining and transforming Balbriggan Town.

“The approval and implementation of this project will demonstrate the benefits of this community involvement.”

AnnMarie Farrelly chief executive of Fingal County Council the project shows the authority’s commitment “to deliver the many objectives of the ambitious Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan for the town including the Bremore Regional Park Development Project.

“This proposal is the result of extensive consultation and engagement  and is a significant milestone in delivering the longterm vision for the Park and I would encourage everyone to continue to engage with the process.”