23/4763
The construction of a retaining wall with protective railing on top, along the rear/northern boundary and returned to the eastern end, the raising and alteration of the existing ground levels to include a sunken seating area at the rear garden of the dwelling. The development included all the required site works, including site drainage, landscaping and the construction of a series of planters located on the external face of the retaining wall. The development consisted of works to the boundary, and within the curtilage of a protected structure RPS-ID511 (Horsehead House), as listed in Volume 2 of the current Cork County Development Plan. The development is also adjacent to the protected structure RPS-ID1476 (Abbotts Bridge). The development is located adjacent to Natura 2000 Sites: Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protected Areas (SPAs), of The River Lee and tributaries and Cork Harbour, as set out in Articles 6 of the Habitats/Bird Directives. The application is accompanied by an Appropriate Assessment Screening of the impacts/potential impacts the development has had, and will have on the conservation objectives of any Natura 2000 sites.
Core Refusal Reason
The development is visually intrusive and fails to integrate into a designated High Value Landscape, causing significant detriment to the scenic amenities of the area.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The design, scale, and proximity of the wall to the Greenway result in a visually intrusive and monumental structure that fails to assimilate into the High Value Landscape.
- The development seriously detracts from the scenic and visual amenities of the area and is contrary to policy objectives intended to protect the built and natural environment.
- Granting permission would establish an undesirable precedent for similar incongruous developments in a sensitive and scenic landscape.