Core Refusal Reason
The applicant failed to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need under the County Development Plan, and the proposed conversion was deemed excessive in scale, effectively constituting a new dwelling that would negatively impact the character of the vernacular outbuilding and the surrounding landscape.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant failed to demonstrate a functional social or economic need to reside in the open countryside, contrary to the settlement strategy for Level 10 Rural Areas and Objective CPO 6.41.
- The proposed development, due to its scale and design, constitutes the creation of an entirely new structure rather than a sensitive conversion, failing to protect the heritage value of the existing vernacular outbuilding.
- The application lacked essential technical documentation, including a detailed measured survey and a structural engineer's report, to prove the building's suitability for conversion as required by Objective CPO 8.19.
Cited Policies (CDP)
CPO 6.41CPO 6.42CPO 6.44CPO 8.1CPO 8.2CPO 8.3CPO 8.4CPO 8.9CPO 8.18CPO 8.19CPO 8.20CPO 13.16CPO 17.35Chapter 4Table 6.3Appendix 2
Decision Document Summary
This application sought permission for the conversion of an existing stone farm outbuilding into a two-story, self-contained dwelling with an on-site wastewater treatment system at Mooreshill, Killahurler, Co. Wicklow. The site is located within an active farmyard in a 'Rolling Lowlands' landscape. Wicklow County Council refused the proposal primarily because the applicant did not meet the rural housing need criteria, having previously been granted permission for a dwelling nearby. Furthermore, ...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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