2460011
development which will consist of/ consists of (a) permission for refurbishment of and extension to retained former house & garage for the social, recreational, environmental, enterprise & educational use by inhabitants of Castlepollard and visiting communities, with gardens, water features, greenhouses, roads, paths, car & bicycle parking, hard & soft landscaping, planting, lighting, site entrance boundaries & all associated ancillary utilities, facilities & site works. Retention permission for (b) Change of Use of retained lands and structures on site N91 NP40 from Use as a House to Class 9: Use as a social centre/ community centre
Core Refusal Reason
The proposal constitutes over-development on residential zoned land, lacking adequate parking and pedestrian connectivity, which would negatively impact residential amenity and create a traffic hazard.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The scale and intensity of the proposed community use on a relatively small site zoned 'Established Residential' would result in over-development and seriously injure the amenities of neighboring properties through noise and general disturbance.
- The development is considered haphazard due to the lack of safe pedestrian connectivity to Castlepollard town centre and the absence of sufficient on-site parking to cater for the intensified use.
- The additional traffic movements generated would interfere with the safety and free flow of traffic on the local road, creating a traffic hazard and setting an undesirable precedent for similar developments in residential areas.