Core Refusal Reason
Failure to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need based on significant agricultural involvement, coupled with a design that is considered unduly prominent and inconsistent with rural design guidelines.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicants failed to provide robust evidence of a location-specific rural housing need or significant involvement in agriculture, which is a mandatory requirement for residential development in an Area under Strong Urban Influence.
- The proposed dwelling's design, specifically its excessive building depth of 26.55m and 340m setback from the public road, was deemed to be of inappropriate scale and bulk, resulting in an obtrusive feature in the rural landscape.
- The Planning Authority noted the presence of an existing, potentially unauthorized habitable structure on-site which was not included in the development description, further complicating the principle of development at this location.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027Section 9.4Section 9.6RD POL 1RD POL 2RD POL 3RD POL 9RUR DEV SP 2Meath Rural House Design Guide
Decision Document Summary
The application proposed the construction of a large two-storey dwelling, detached garage, and wastewater treatment system on a 1.682ha site at Roanstown, Co. Meath. Located within an 'Area under Strong Urban Influence', the proposal was assessed against strict local need criteria. The Planning Authority determined that the applicants failed to adequately demonstrate significant agricultural involvement or a genuine rural housing need. Additionally, the dwelling's design was found to be contrary...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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