Core Refusal Reason
The proposal exceeds density guidelines for metropolitan town centres, utilizes inappropriate external materials, and fails to provide adequate residential amenities and communal facilities.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed density of 159 units per hectare exceeds the 50-150 dph range prescribed by the Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2024 for Metropolitan Town centres.
- The replacement of permitted brick finishes with render is considered a substandard design response for a prominent town centre site and would negatively impact the visual amenities of the area.
- The development fails to provide a dedicated communal room and appropriate balcony designs for Block 1, resulting in a poor standard of residential amenity that contravenes national apartment guidelines and the 'RS' zoning objective.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective SPQHO42RS zoning objective
Decision Document Summary
This application proposed alterations to a previously approved development at the junction of Rathbeale Road and Watery Lane in Swords, Co. Dublin. The local authority refused permission on three primary grounds: excessive residential density that fails to comply with national compact settlement guidelines, the use of inferior external materials (render instead of brick) which detracts from the visual quality of the prominent town centre site, and a lack of essential residential amenities includ...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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