Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development would create a traffic hazard on a Strategic Regional Road and require the excessive removal of mature hedgerows, causing significant injury to the area's biodiversity and visual amenity.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The creation of a new access onto the R426 Strategic Regional Road contravenes Policy Trans 22, which prohibits unnecessary access onto high-speed strategic routes to preserve road capacity and safety.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate that the required 180m sightlines could be achieved without the unauthorized removal of hedgerows on third-party lands and the excessive removal of roadside boundaries, creating a public safety hazard.
- The extensive removal of native hedgerows required to facilitate the development would result in a loss of natural habitats and set an undesirable precedent that would erode the natural heritage and visual character of the landscape.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Table 4.4Policy Trans 22Appendix 7Policy DM BNH 5Policy BNH 27Policy BNH 28Policy BNH 30Section 10.1.3.3
Decision Document Summary
Lauren McDonald applied for permission to construct a bungalow, garage, and wastewater treatment system at Aughoney, Timahoe, Co. Laois. The 0.54ha site is located on the R426 Strategic Regional Road in an area characterized as Hills and Upland. The application was refused because the proposed entrance onto a high-speed strategic route violates safety policies and would lead to a proliferation of similar developments. Furthermore, the project required the removal of an excessive quantum of matur...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
Note: If code appears below, the council site is blocking the preview. Please open the original file.