Core Refusal Reason
The proposal constitutes an inappropriate scale of commercial development in an unserviced rural area, creating a significant traffic hazard on a restricted regional road (R333) and failing to demonstrate adequate infrastructure for water and drainage.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development represents a substantial scale of unauthorized commercial activity that is more appropriately located on serviced urban lands, thus contravening rural enterprise policies and setting an undesirable precedent.
- The proposed vehicular entrance onto the R333 restricted regional road would endanger public safety by creating a traffic hazard due to restricted sight distances, poor road alignment, and a substandard dwell area.
- The application failed to provide sufficient technical evidence regarding the adequacy of surface water disposal and public water supply connections, posing a potential risk to public health and local amenities.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Policy Objective CD 1DM Standard 17DM Standard 27DM Standard 28DM Standard 33aDM Standard 36Policy Objective NNR 2Objective WS7Chapter 4 Rural Living and DevelopmentChapter 7 Infrastructure, Utilities and Environmental ProtectionChapter 8 Tourism and LandscapeChapter 10 Natural Heritage, Biodiversity and Green/Blue Infrastructure
Decision Document Summary
Declan McHugh sought permission for two existing agricultural buildings, a fuel shed, and a vehicular entrance at Castlehackett, Belclare, Co. Galway. The site is located in a rural area off the R333 restricted regional road and has a significant planning history involving refusals for unauthorized tractor repair and servicing businesses. Galway County Council refused the application primarily because the commercial nature and scale of the development are unsuitable for an unserviced rural locat...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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