Wexford County Council covers Wexford town, Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross and Bunclody, Rosslare Europort and a long coastline from Courtown and Curracloe to Kilmore Quay and the Hook Peninsula. Growth in north Wexford, coastal tourism and coastal erosion are among the county's main planning issues.
Ireland Planning advises homeowners, farmers, landowners, businesses and developers on planning permission in the Wexford County Council area. Advice is provided by our planning team, led by a chartered planning consultant and Full Corporate Member of the Irish Planning Institute (MIPI). We review the planning history, the Wexford County Development Plan and any site constraints before you commit to drawings or a purchase.
Planning permission in Wexford: local context
Wexford's soft coastline, particularly from Courtown to Cahore and around Rosslare, is affected by coastal erosion, and the council's policies restrict new development in vulnerable coastal areas. Holiday homes and mobile-home parks are common along the coast and are assessed carefully against settlement and tourism policy.
Gorey and north Wexford have grown quickly with commuter links to Dublin along the M11, so rural housing criteria are stricter in those areas. Wexford town, Enniscorthy and New Ross have active regeneration objectives, and Rosslare Europort is a strategic location for port-related and logistics development.
The Hook Peninsula, the Slaney and Barrow estuaries and the Wexford Slobs are important landscapes and habitats, and Enniscorthy, New Ross and Wexford town contain many protected structures.
Key planning considerations in Wexford
These are the issues that most often decide applications to Wexford County Council:
- Coastal erosion from Courtown to Rosslare
- Holiday homes, mobile-home parks and coastal tourism
- Rural housing local need in north Wexford and the M11 corridor
- Rosslare Europort and logistics development
- Hook Peninsula, Slaney estuary and Wexford Slobs habitats
- Town-centre regeneration in Wexford, Enniscorthy and New Ross
Towns and areas we cover
We advise on sites throughout the Wexford County Council area, including:
Wexford town · Enniscorthy · Gorey · New Ross · Bunclody · Rosslare Strand · Rosslare Harbour · Courtown · Kilmore Quay · Fethard-on-Sea · Ferns · Taghmon · Curracloe · Ballycanew · Blackwater · Duncannon · Camolin · Clonroche
Our planning services for Wexford County Council applications
- Planning feasibility reviews and pre-planning (Section 247) consultation with Wexford County Council
- House extensions, attic conversions and garage conversions, assessed against the Wexford County Development Plan
- One-off rural houses, local need and rural housing policy compliance
- Change of use for shops, offices, clinics, restaurants and other premises
- Commercial to residential conversions and living over the shop
- Commercial, retail and business planning applications
- Retention planning permission for unauthorised works and enforcement issues
- Planning refusals, conditions and appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála
- Section 5 declarations on whether works are exempted development
- Third-party observations and objections on planning applications
Planning refusals and appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála
If Wexford County Council has refused permission or attached conditions that make a project unworkable, the options include an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála, a revised application that addresses the reasons for refusal, or a further information strategy. We review the planner’s report, the reasons for refusal and the relevant policies before recommending a route. See our planning refusals and appeals service.
Frequently asked questions about planning permission in Wexford
Can I get permission for a house in a coastal erosion area in Wexford?
Wexford County Council generally restricts new development in areas at risk from coastal erosion, and a coastal-erosion assessment may be required. We review the site's risk and whether there is a realistic planning case.
Do I need permission for a mobile home on my site in Wexford?
Placing a mobile home on land for residential or holiday use usually needs planning permission, other than limited temporary exemptions. We advise on the correct route.
How long does Wexford County Council take to decide a planning application?
Wexford County Council must generally decide a valid planning application within eight weeks of receiving it. If the council requests further information, the decision is usually due within four weeks of that information being received. Invalid applications are returned, so a complete, well-prepared submission saves time.
Can I appeal a decision made by Wexford County Council?
Yes. Applicants, and third parties who made a valid submission on the application, can generally appeal a decision by Wexford County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála) within four weeks of the decision date. The deadline is strict, so get advice as soon as the decision issues.
Information to include with your enquiry
The more accurately we understand the site and proposed development, the more useful an initial response can be.
- Full property address and Eircode, if available
- Existing use and proposed use or works
- Any planning reference numbers, decisions or drawings
- Relevant timescales and known constraints
Neighbouring planning authorities
We also advise on projects in nearby council areas: Wicklow County Council, Carlow County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Waterford City and County Council. See every county and council we cover on our planning permission by county and council page.
Request a planning assessment
Contact Ireland Planning on 01 223 2496 or email info@irelandplanning.ie with the site address and your proposal. We will explain the planning position with Wexford County Council and the next practical step for your project.
Request a Planning Assessment →
Planning law and local policy can change. Any general information on this page should be checked against the provisions in force and the specific property circumstances before relying on an exemption or commencing works.