2660022

The applicant failed to provide sufficient documentary evidence of a five-year local residency to satisfy rural housing need criteria, and the proposed garage was deemed excessive in scale and height for a domestic ancillary structure.

• The applicant submitted insufficient financial and residency records (e.g., bank statements, utility bills) to establish a functional or intrinsic link to the 'Strong Rural Area' for the required five-year period.
• The proposed garage, at 92.68sqm and 6.244m in height, is considered too large and must be reduced to a maximum of 60sqm and 5m respectively to comply with rural design standards.
• A non-statutory Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) is required due to the site's immediate proximity to the Rathmolyon Esker Natural Heritage Area (NHA) to ensure no adverse impacts on protected habitats or species.