2360334
The development will consist of a) construction of new warehouse building with 2 storey ancillary office accommodation at ground and first floor levels (overall height 10.115m) and a total gross floor area of 2,009m2 (1,785m2 at Ground floor & 224m2 at 1st floor) on a site of circa 0.412 hectares; b) boundary wall to R135 and boundary fencing to other elevations. The development will also incorporate 26 standard car parking spaces, 2 no. wheelchair accessible parking spaces, 16 bicycle spaces, ESB substation, goods yard and all associated site development works
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed warehouse development was refused because it fails to meet the high-technology employment objectives of the E1 zoning and features a poor-quality, visually obtrusive design on a prominent regional route.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The nature of the development as a warehouse fails to satisfy the E1 zoning objective, which is specifically intended to facilitate high-technology and major campus-style office-based employment.
- The architectural design and siting are considered outdated and of poor standard, resulting in an unduly prominent and obtrusive impact on the visual amenity of the R135 regional route and the entrance to Ashbourne.
- Granting permission would materially contravene the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 and set an undesirable precedent for similar developments that do not meet the required architectural or zoning standards.