Core Refusal Reason
The applicants failed to demonstrate a genuine housing need for a site zoned 'Agricultural/Rural', leading to unsustainable development that undermines the Buncrana Core Strategy and National Planning Framework goals for compact growth.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed development constitutes urban-generated housing that 'leapfrogs' sequentially better sites closer to the town centre, resulting in a haphazard and unsustainable development pattern.
- The applicants' local connections, while noted, do not establish a functional housing need at this specific rural location as required by the development plan policies.
- Granting permission would undermine the role of Buncrana in the delivery of the Core Strategy and militate against the preservation of the rural environment.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Policy BC-H-P-4Policy CS-P-2Policy BC-H-P-1Chapter 2A (Core Strategy)Map 13.1A (Buncrana Land Use Zoning)Donegal County Development Plan 2018-2024
Decision Document Summary
This report pertains to a first-party appeal against Donegal County Council's decision to refuse permission for a dwelling house, domestic garage, septic tank, and percolation area at Clonblosk, Buncrana. The 0.51ha site is located in a rural area zoned 'Agricultural/Rural'. The Planning Authority's primary concern, shared by the Inspector, is that the applicants failed to meet the criteria of Policy BC-H-P-4, which requires evidence of a specific housing need for one-off housing in rural zones....SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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