Roundwood Caravan and Camping Park has submitted plans to Wicklow County Council to redevelop its 1.64-hectare site in Ashtown into a five-star holiday park featuring upgraded accommodation and recreational facilities. The proposals include the addition of treehouses, a wellness centre with a swimming pool, and eco-friendly lodges.
The planning documents outline the demolition of the current dwelling/reception, toilet block, and the TV recreation room and store building. A new wellness centre for residents will include a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and changing rooms.
A single-storey cinema and a two-storey dormer reception building with a snack bar, seating, and staff accommodation are also planned. Recreational facilities are expected to include a multi-purpose games court and a children’s playground.
Accommodation plans involve five three-bedroom lodges with first-floor balconies, six two-bedroom treehouses raised above the ground, seven semi-detached lodge buildings containing 14 three-bedroom units, and a three-storey lodge building with 30 two-bedroom units. The landscaping plan aims to retain all existing boundary trees while adding new planting throughout the site.
BPS Planning and Development Consultants, acting on behalf of applicant Summitpeak Land Holdings Ltd, stated that the current park “is not a viable tourism facility” and does not meet the preferences of national and international tourists, particularly those from Italy, Spain, and France.
According to The Irish Independent, the planning report noted that visitors increasingly seek “ready to go” self-catering or hotel-type accommodation, rather than tent or touring caravan options.
The report referenced existing Irish and European models, stating, “In Ireland, Center Parcs has now set the standard for offering tourist facilities alongside accommodation, though it does so in a rural setting. The current proposals seek to offer this type of model of excellent recreational facilities and amenities alongside high-quality accommodation.”
The project team also highlighted that the existing reception and other site buildings are poorly located and do not present a welcoming set-down area for incoming vehicles.
A decision on the planning application is expected by March 1, 2026. If approved, the redevelopment could provide insights for other tourism and outdoor hospitality operators on integrating modern accommodation options and on-site amenities to meet evolving visitor expectations.