Core Planning Reasoning
The provision of roof lights and an escape window is considered acceptable as it facilitates the habitable use of a permitted attic conversion by providing a necessary fire escape route without causing significant adverse impacts on the visual or residential amenities of the surrounding area.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The Cabrio window on the northern roof slope should be permitted because it provides a vital secondary means of escape required for habitable use and its scale does not pose a significant overlooking risk.
- Condition 2(b) should be retained as reducing the number of Velux windows on the southern roof slope to two achieves an appropriate balance between lighting requirements and protecting neighborhood amenity.
- Condition 2(d) regarding light tunnels should be omitted as the tunnels are already in situ, are relatively minor in nature, and do not have an undue impact on the amenity of the area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 14.10.2.5SPQH41SPQ043SPQH045
Decision Document Summary
This Inspector's Report assesses a first-party appeal against three sub-conditions (2a, 2b, and 2d) of a permission granted by Fingal County Council for roof lights and an escape window at a duplex apartment in Swords. The development is a repeat application intended to restore elements omitted by a previous planning decision, which effectively limited the attic conversion to storage use only. The Inspector notes that the Fingal County Development Plan 2023-2029 supports sensitive residential ex...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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