Planning permission was granted for a 116-bed hotel and 107 residential units on the Murrough site in Wicklow town.
The site was previously home to Veha Radiators, a major employer until its closure in 2005.
Cable Rock Developments owns the 7.57-acre site, with redevelopment plans submitted by Pathway Homes Limited in late 2024.
The Murrough site is zoned for mixed-use, including residential, community, employment, and retail purposes.
The development includes a creche, shop/café, and office space, enhancing the area’s tourism and community facilities.
The Veha Radiators factory, located on the Murrough in Wicklow town, operated from 1966 until its closure in July 2005, resulting in the loss of 93 jobs. It was one of the largest employers in the area during its operation.
The Quinn Group acquired the plant in 2004 after purchasing the Barlo Group, but a review citing environmental issues and a declining market for round-top radiators led to its shutdown in 2009. The 7.57-acre site, which includes 19,443.5 m² of warehouse and office space, was left largely vacant, with parts classified as derelict and overgrown by 2018, leading to its inclusion on the Vacant Sites Register by An Bord Pleanála.
The site was put up for sale in 2014 with a guide price of €975,000, attracting interest due to its prime location between the Irish Sea and the Vartry River. By February 2022, it was listed again by Vincent Finnegan Commercial, with market sources estimating a value exceeding €7 million.
The site’s mixed-use zoning under the Wicklow Town/Rathnew Development Plan 2013-2019 allowed for residential, community, employment, and retail development, with potential for up to 450 homes.
A sale agreement was reached in May 2022, with proposals suggesting a less dense scheme of 150 townhouses and 306 apartments. Local stakeholders, including Cllr Gail Dunne and Dave Shannon of the Wicklow Town Team, advocated for a hotel to boost tourism and employment, citing the site’s scenic coastal location.
In late 2024, Pathway Homes Limited submitted plans for a 116-bed hotel, 107 residential units, a creche, a shop/café, and office space, which received planning permission in early 2025.
The development aligns with the Murrough Opportunity Area’s vision to extend Wicklow town’s centre, focusing on residential, tourism, and recreation uses. A separate Wicklow County Council project for a Murrough waterfront park, including a playground, walkways, and campervan parking, complements the hotel proposal to enhance the area’s appeal.
The hotel is seen as addressing a long-standing need in Wicklow town, with local leaders like Taoiseach Micheál Martin and daa CEO Kenny Jacobs noting its potential to boost tourism and local employment.
The site, now owned by Cable Rock Developments, has been vacant for two decades since Veha’s closure. The approved development is expected to transform the Murrough into an extension of Wicklow town’s centre, with the hotel and residential units enhancing local infrastructure.
A €200m investment by daa Group, announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin in 2024, includes upgrades like a new mezzanine floor, expanded security area, and additional boarding gates at nearby Cork Airport, indicating broader regional development momentum.
The Murrough project, combined with the waterfront park, aims to create a cohesive urban area with improved amenities and economic opportunities
