Core Refusal Reason
The Inspector recommends granting permission, overturning the Planning Authority's refusal, on the basis that the development supports sustainable agriculture and will reduce the intensity of traffic movements at the N25 junction during peak harvest periods by allowing for on-site storage.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposal is consistent with the Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019, specifically Objective ED20, as it facilitates the sustainable development of an existing tillage farm enterprise.
- While sightlines at the N25 junction are below current standards, the development is unlikely to result in a material intensification of use and may actually improve road safety by spreading traffic movements more evenly throughout the year.
- The project does not require a mandatory EIA or a Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment due to its limited scale, the nature of the storage use, and the lack of significant environmental or hydrological links to European sites.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective ED20Objective T20Objective T24Chapter 18
Decision Document Summary
The application relates to the construction of a 648sqm steel-framed agricultural shed for storing straw and machinery on a 0.25ha site within a larger 24.26ha tillage farm in Grange, Co. Wexford. Wexford County Council initially refused permission, citing traffic safety concerns regarding the intensification of an existing access onto the N25 national route where a 100kph speed limit applies. In his assessment, the Inspector highlights that the shed is intended to store products on-site that ar...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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