SD23B/0529
Amendments to existing dwelling house: (a) Removal of existing pitched roof and replacement with new flat roof, (b) Demolition of existing bay window to the front and construction of a new single storey extension, (c) Redesign of existing sun room to side to include new roof and extension to the rear, (d) New first floor extension partially located over existing dwelling footprint, (e) New two storey extension to rear, (f) Revised external window and door arrangements throughout, (g) Decommissioning existing sewage treatment system and replacement with a new on-site wastewater treatment system, (h) Connection to all existing on-site services, landscaping and all associated development works.
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed extension is excessive in scale (124% increase), effectively constituting a new replacement dwelling that fails to meet rural housing policies, lacks landscape impact assessment, and poses potential environmental risks to nearby European sites.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The scale of the extension (124% increase) is disproportionate and fails to meet the criteria for a modest extension, effectively acting as a new dwelling without the required justification for the 'HA-DM' zone.
- The proposal lacks sufficient technical data regarding site levels and wastewater capacity, making it impossible to assess the visual impact on protected views or the potential ecological impact on nearby SACs and SPAs.
- The development is visually obtrusive and out of character with the sensitive Dublin Mountains landscape, setting a negative precedent for large-scale residential development in a protected area.