Core Refusal Reason
The proposal was refused due to a lack of technical justification for the fencing, its significant negative visual impact on a high-sensitivity landscape, and the failure to demonstrate that it would not adversely affect the integrity of the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex SAC.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The Planning Authority is not satisfied that the project will not adversely affect the integrity and conservation objectives of the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex SAC and other European sites within 15km due to insufficient environmental assessment.
- The development lacks technical justification and would materially contravene landscape policies (LCM 1, 2, 3, and 4) by introducing visually intrusive industrial-style fencing into a sensitive, traditionally open mountain environment.
- The application failed to provide adequate detail on construction logistics and failed to include necessary access points for public recreational use, representing haphazard development that would injure local amenities and mountain safety.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Policy Objective NHB 1Policy Objective NHB 2Policy Objective NHB 3Policy Objective NHB 4Policy Objective WR 1DM Standard 50LCM 1LCM 2LCM 3LCM 4DM Standard 46DM Standard 47
Decision Document Summary
The National Parks & Wildlife Service proposed the installation of 6.263km of stock-proof fencing along a mountain ridgetop in Connemara National Park, situated within the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex SAC. Galway County Council refused permission because the applicant provided no technical evidence to justify the fencing's necessity for overgrazing control. The council determined that the industrial design would severely detract from the visual amenity of the high-sensitivity landscape and that t...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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