Core Refusal Reason
The development was refused due to non-compliance with rural housing density limits in a sensitive water catchment area, failure to demonstrate safe road access, and negative visual impact on a High Amenity Area.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposal contravenes CPO 9.23 as it is located within the Lough Owel Water Catchment Area where the maximum allowance of two dwellings per farm holding has already been exceeded.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate that safe sightlines are achievable, as the required visibility splays rely on lands outside their legal control, posing a risk to road safety.
- The design and scale of the dwelling, combined with the removal of significant roadside hedgerows, would create a visually obtrusive feature that fails to integrate into the High Amenity Area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
CPO 9.1CPO 10.52CPO 16.32CPO 16.33CPO 16.34CPO 9.23CPO 9.24CPO 9.8CPO 9.13CPO 13.20CPO 13.21CPO 13.22CPO 13.23CPO 9.17
Decision Document Summary
The applicant sought permission for a part two-storey detached dwelling and garage at Irishtown, Mullingar, a site located within the Lough Owel High Amenity Area and Water Catchment Area. Although the applicant established a local housing need, the proposal was refused because the farm holding already contains more than two dwellings, violating density policies for the sensitive catchment area. Furthermore, the development was deemed to have a negative visual impact due to its disjointed design...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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