Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development would materially contravene Policy TRANS 22 of the County Development Plan by creating a new access onto a Strategic Regional Road (R422) and fails to meet required traffic safety sightline standards.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development would materially contravene Policy TRANS 22 of the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027, which prohibits unnecessary new access points onto Strategic Regional Roads in areas where speed limits exceed 50kmph.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate the required sight distances of 3m x 180m at the site entrance, showing only 120m, which would interfere with the safety and free-flowing nature of traffic on the R422.
- While the applicant established a local rural housing need as a son of a landowner, further confirmation is required to ensure this is their first dwelling in the rural area and to verify the feasibility of public water connections.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Policy TRANS 22Section 10.1.3.3Table 4.4Appendix 7Policy BNH 28National Policy Objective 19National Policy Objective 20
Decision Document Summary
David Whelan applied for permission to construct a 182sqm contemporary single-storey dwelling, garage, and septic tank on a 0.32-hectare agricultural site at Debicot, Mountmellick. The site is located in an 'Area Under Strong Urban Influence' and is accessed via the R422 Strategic Regional Road. Although the applicant demonstrated a local rural housing need as a returning emigrant intending to farm family lands, the Planning Authority recommended a request for further information (effectively a ...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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