214236

The importation of soil & stone for the raising of an agricultural field in order to improve the agricultural output of the field and the construction of a temporary haul road. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and will be submitted to the authority with this application.

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The proposed development poses an unacceptable risk to the water quality of the Watergrasshill Public Water Supply Inner Source Protection Area and the Barnetstown and Glashaboy Rivers, where Irish Water maintains drinking water abstraction points.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The proximity of the site to the Meenane Bridge Springs and its location within an Inner Source Protection Area creates a high risk of microbial and chemical contamination of a critical public water supply.
  • The applicant failed to submit required information under Schedule 7A of the Planning and Development Regulations to allow for a mandatory EIA screening determination, given the project exceeds 50% of the relevant threshold.
  • While the proposal might facilitate improved agricultural productivity, the potential prejudice to public health through water quality degradation outweighs the agricultural and land-reclamation benefits.

Cited Policies (CDP)

Cork County Development Plan 2014 – 2020Landscape Character Area (LCA) 'Fissured Fertile Middleground'Fermoy Municipal District Local Area Plan 2017

Decision Document Summary

This report concerns an appeal against Cork County Council's decision to refuse permission for the importation of 95,634 tonnes of soil and stone to raise a 2.91-hectare agricultural field in Skahanagh South. The applicant sought to improve the agricultural output of the 'rush-infested' land and construct a temporary haul road. Key issues identified include the site's high groundwater vulnerability and its location almost entirely within the inner buffer zone of a public water source. Despite pr...
SOURCE PDFOpen Original
Note: If code appears below, the council site is blocking the preview. Please open the original file.