Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development is refused because its excessive scale, mass, height, and inappropriate design elements (including decorative features and fenestration) would be visually obtrusive and out of character with the existing pattern of housing in the rural landscape, thereby contravening the Wexford County Development Plan.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The house design, featuring a 10.87m ridge height and 20m depth, contrasts starkly with the established local pattern of bungalows, dormer bungalows, and traditional vernacular farmhouses.
- The central placement of the dwelling within an agricultural field diminishes the land's utility and increases the visual prominence of the structure, particularly as roadside hedging would need to be removed for sightlines.
- The architectural details, specifically cited as 'Georgian windows and Greek columns,' are deemed out of context for the rural landscape and fail to meet the County Development Plan's requirements for design simplicity.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 18.12.2Section 4.3.3.1Objective RH05Table No. 12Section 17.7Section 18.12.1Section 18.12Wexford County Development Plan 2013 to 2019
Decision Document Summary
The applicant, Johnny Connors, sought permission to construct a two-storey house and garage on a 0.4ha agricultural site in Cullenstown, Foulksmills, Co. Wexford. The site is located within a 'Structurally Weak Area' where housing policy is generally facilitative; however, the Planning Authority refused permission based on design concerns. The Inspector noted that while a single-storey house was previously permitted on the site (2019/172), this current proposal is significantly larger and bulkie...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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