An Taisce welcomes the decision by An Bord Pleanala to refuse permission and overturn the decision made by Wicklow County Council granting the Padraig Smith Partnership permission to demolish and redevelop the Bayview Hotel and adjoining buildings at High Street, Wicklow. The development would have involved the demolition of the 19^th century hotel building facing High Street along with other buildings running to the rear to accommodate the retail, parking and apartment scheme.

The decision was appealed by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Irish Georgian Society as well as An Taisce. The grounds

 of refusal are attached.  An Taisce welcomes this decision and particularly the involvement of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in appealing the decision. It is hoped that this decision will lead to a more active role by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in advising local authorities against granting inappropriate permissions in historic towns damaging to architectural heritage an appealing such cases in the event of such decisions being made.