Core Refusal Reason
The proposal constitutes a low-density, piecemeal form of residential development on an unzoned greenfield site that fails to adhere to the sequential approach for compact growth, lacks essential pedestrian and cycle linkages, and provides insufficient technical information regarding surface water drainage and long-term wastewater treatment capacity.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development is considered piecemeal and fails to follow the sequential approach for the orderly expansion of the village on unzoned agricultural land.
- Inadequate technical information was submitted to demonstrate that the surface water drainage system would not cause adverse impacts or flooding downstream.
- The proposal is premature as the existing Ballymurn Wastewater Treatment Plant lacks the capacity to serve the applicant's full 33-unit masterplan without significant, currently unplanned upgrades.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028Table 3-2 (Settlement Hierarchy)Objective CS21 (Growth in Service Settlements)Objective CS22 (Settlement Boundaries)Section 4.7.2 (Indicative Density and Scale)Table 4-5 (Density and Scale)Objective SH15 (Density)Objective TV34 (Compact Growth/Sequential Approach)Section 5.10 (Greenfield Expansion)Objective TS24 (Walking and Cycling)Objective WW03 (Wastewater Capacity)Objective SWM01 (Surface Water Management)Objective SWW01 (SuDS Application)Table 3-4 (Minimum Floor Area/Private Open Space)Table 6-7 (Car Parking Standards)
Decision Document Summary
The proposal involves the construction of 13 dwellings as the first phase of a larger 33-unit masterplan on a 1.09ha greenfield site at the edge of Ballymurn Village. The site is currently unzoned and lacks pedestrian infrastructure. While the applicant argued the development represents a natural expansion of the village, the Inspector found the 11 unit/ha density too low and the layout piecemeal. Key arguments focused on 'leap-frogging' better-located sites closer to the village core. Furthermo...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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