Core Refusal Reason
The proposal was refused due to its prominent elevated location causing adverse visual impact, unsuitable ground conditions for wastewater treatment, and a design that fails to comply with rural housing guidelines.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development's prominent location on an elevated slope would fail to integrate into the scenic landscape, setting an undesirable precedent and injuring the visual amenities of the area.
- Ground conditions are unsuitable for the safe disposal of effluent due to a high water table and poor soil percolation, posing a risk to public health.
- The proposed dwelling's scale, massing, and bird-shaped design contravene Objective RHO 5 of the Development Plan and fail to meet the standards set out in the Mayo Rural Housing Design Guidelines.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective RHO 5Section 7.6Section 7.9Mayo Rural Housing Design Guidelines 2008Mayo County Development Plan 2022-2028
Decision Document Summary
Declan Forde sought planning permission for a 224m2 flat-roofed bungalow and wastewater treatment system at an elevated site on the slopes of Nephin in Aghaloonteen, Co. Mayo. Mayo County Council refused the application on three main grounds: the significant visual impact of the house in a sensitive upland landscape, the technical failure of the site to accommodate wastewater due to a high water table and peaty soil, and the architectural design's non-compliance with rural housing guidelines....SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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