Core Refusal Reason
The application was refused due to the applicant's failure to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need, the development's negative visual impact on a sensitive Class 4 landscape, and traffic safety concerns regarding insufficient sightlines.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed development on an elevated site within a Class 4 Special Landscape Category would constitute an obtrusive feature that fails to integrate into the rural environment, contravening Objective RHO 9 and DM Standard 6.
- The applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence of a genuine rural-generated housing need or intrinsic local links to the area as required by Objective RHO 3 for Rural Housing Zone 3.
- The proposed site entrance is considered unsatisfactory due to restricted sightlines on a narrow local road, posing a traffic hazard and contravening DM Standard 20.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective RHO 1Objective RHO 3Objective RHO 9DM Standard 6DM Standard 20DM Standard 40Policy NHB 1Objective NHB 1Objective NHB 2Objective NHB 3Objective DS 6Objective AFF 5Section 3.8.2Section 3.9Section 6.17Section 9.10.1Section 9.11Section 13.3Section 13.4
Decision Document Summary
Sinead Foyle sought permission for a 154sqm dwelling, garage, and wastewater system at Ballynew, Connemara North, situated on a 0.34ha elevated site within a sensitive Class 4 landscape. Galway County Council refused the application on three main grounds: the development would be visually obtrusive and fail to harmonize with the protected landscape; the applicant did not adequately demonstrate compliance with rural housing need criteria (Objective RHO 3); and the proposed entrance lacked safe si...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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