Core Refusal Reason
The development constitutes a traffic hazard on the M7 motorway and a visually prominent intrusion into the rural landscape, contrary to local and national planning policy.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The sign's location and scale adjacent to the M7 Motorway would endanger public safety by creating a traffic hazard and distracting drivers.
- Granting permission would establish an undesirable precedent for similar advertising structures, potentially leading to a proliferation of signage that compromises the operational efficiency of the national road network.
- The structure is a visually prominent feature that seriously injures the visual amenities of the rural landscape and fails to meet the requirements of Development Management Standard DM TC 10.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027Development Management Standard DM TC 10
Decision Document Summary
Portlaoise Plaza Ltd sought retention permission for a 3.8m high metal advertising sign on an elevated agricultural site in Ballydavis, Co. Laois, fronting the M7 Motorway. Laois County Council refused the proposal primarily because the sign's location and scale create a significant traffic hazard and driver distraction on a national road, contrary to TII advice and national guidelines. Furthermore, the Planning Authority determined that the sign is a visually intrusive element in the rural land...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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