Core Refusal Reason
The application was refused due to the applicant's failure to demonstrate a genuine local housing need, the excessive density of one-off housing in the area which exceeds the 30 units per square kilometre threshold, and the unjustified removal of mature hedgerows without mitigation.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant failed to demonstrate compliance with the rural housing local need criteria as they submitted an outdated application form and lacked required documentation such as folio details and solicitor letters.
- The proposed development would exacerbate an excessive density of rural housing in an area where 46 units per square kilometre have already been identified, significantly exceeding the County Development Plan's limit of 30 units per square kilometre.
- The project requires the removal of approximately 10.8m of mature hedgerow to facilitate a new entrance without any proposed mitigation or landscape plan, which materially contravenes objectives to protect green infrastructure.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 3.13.3Table 3.4Policy HO P26Objective HO O59Objective BI O26Policy HOP11Policy HOP12Policy HOP13Policy HOP14Policy HOP15HO P16Policy HOP27Policy HOP30Policy HOP33Objective HO O44Objective HOO50Objective HOO51Objective HOO52BI P6BI O27AH P9AH O55AH O63Section 15.4.13Section 15.7.6Section 15.7.7Table 15.7
Decision Document Summary
Craig Doherty applied for planning permission to construct a 199sqm bungalow, a new splayed entrance, and a wastewater treatment system on a 0.667ha site at Ardnagross, Kilmead, Athy. The site is located on unzoned agricultural land along the R418, near the rural settlement boundary of Kilmead. Kildare County Council refused the application because the applicant did not prove a local housing need under the 2023-2029 Development Plan, the proposal would contribute to unsustainable suburbanisation...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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