Core Refusal Reason
The development would be prejudicial to traffic safety and materially contravene Objective DMSO79 due to the lack of safe access, inadequate visibility, and the absence of suitable drop-off and collection points for customers and staff.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- While the principle of expanding an existing childcare facility in a General Employment (GE) zone is acceptable, the proposed layout creates significant risks to pedestrian safety at the crèche entrance.
- The 1.8m high boundary of the proposed play area would reduce intervisibility between pedestrians and vehicles, creating a traffic hazard in an active industrial business park.
- The applicant failed to provide sufficient detail regarding the management of drop-off/collection and staff parking, which is critical given the intensification of the use and the site's distance from public transport nodes.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective DMSO79Objective CIOSO27Policy CIOSP10Objective EEO14Policy EEP2Objective DMSO77Section 14.14.2Section 13.5Section 14.17.7Table 14.18Table 14.19
Decision Document Summary
The proposal sought to increase childcare capacity from 40 to 72 places at Little Harvard Creche in Rosemount Business Park, alongside the creation of a 38.6sqm play area within three existing car parking spaces. The site is situated in a light industrial unit zoned for 'General Employment'. Although the Inspector acknowledged the local demand for childcare services, the assessment focused heavily on the spatial arrangement and safety. The Planning Authority and the Inspector both concluded that...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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