An Bord Pleanála has turned down the €40m proposal for a boutique hotel and surf school on 21 acres above Magheramore Beach in County Wicklow due to insufficient ecological assessments regarding the site’s natural habitats and wildlife.
The plans included a leisure complex with amenities such as a gym, sauna, cinema, outdoor pool, and 48 accommodation pods, but faced opposition from the community and failed to demonstrate compliance with local planning regulations.
The planning authority cited concerns about the impact on the Magherabeg Dunes, a Special Area of Conservation, and noted that the development’s location and parking arrangements did not justify the project’s commencement.
Local representatives, including Cllr Danny Alvey, welcomed An Bord Pleanála’s decision, viewing it as a positive outcome for the preservation of the scenic area surrounding Magheramore Beach.
