2560139

change of use of an existing dwelling to provide 2 No. own door apartment dwellings to include all necessary alterations to existing front elevation to Strand St. to provide full height escape windows and associated roofing, the construction of a new first floor balcony and new external stairs to the rear elevation, including all associated site works

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The proposal was refused due to substandard residential amenity for future occupants, specifically regarding inappropriate access arrangements and failure to meet minimum floor area and storage standards, representing overdevelopment of the site.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The proposed access to the first-floor apartment via a rear fire escape is considered inappropriate and provides a poor standard of residential amenity for future occupants.
  • The internal floor areas and storage provisions are significantly substandard and fail to comply with the mandatory minimum requirements set out in the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments 2023.
  • The development constitutes overdevelopment of a constrained urban site and would set an undesirable precedent for similar substandard residential conversions in the town centre.

Cited Policies (CDP)

Section 12.9.1Section 12.9.13Policy P-RLD1Policy P-RLD7Policy P-RD2Policy P-CS7Policy P-CS11Policy P-SR2Planning Objective O-LZ1SPPR 3SPPR 5

Decision Document Summary

The applicant sought permission for the conversion of an existing mid-terrace two-storey dwelling at No. 8 Strand Street, Athlone, into two separate own-door apartments. The site is located in a town centre setting zoned 'Established Residential' near the River Shannon. Westmeath County Council refused the application primarily because the proposed units were significantly substandard in size and lacked adequate storage. Furthermore, the reliance on an external fire escape as the primary access ...
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