Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development is located on an elevated, sensitive site within an Area of High Amenity where its siting and design would be visually obtrusive and require the significant removal of mature hedgerows to achieve necessary sightlines.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed dwelling is located within the Slieve Bloom Mountains Area of High Amenity, where its elevated position and design would be visually obtrusive and out of character with the sensitive rural landscape.
- Achieving the required 90m sightlines would necessitate the removal of approximately 150m of mature hedgerow and the potential use of retaining structures, which would scar the landscape and contravene DMS 50 regarding boundary retention.
- The Planning Authority noted that the applicants have access to alternative, less elevated family landholdings that were not adequately considered, suggesting the current proposal fails to meet the requirement for low-impact site selection in a high-sensitivity area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
SSP-27BLP-38BLO-22BLO-23BLO-24BLO-25BLP-43BLO-26BLO-27DMS-45DMS-46DMS-47DMS-48DMS-50
Decision Document Summary
William Carroll and Danielle Daly applied for permission to construct a 271m² dormer dwelling and detached garage at Clonlee, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly. The site is located within a 'Stronger Rural Area' and the Slieve Bloom Mountains 'Area of High Amenity,' which is designated as a high-sensitivity landscape. Although the applicants demonstrated compliance with rural housing residency criteria (SSP-27), the application was refused primarily due to the elevated nature of the site. The Planning Author...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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