Core Refusal Reason
The application was refused due to the applicant's failure to demonstrate a local rural housing need, the inappropriate design of the log cabin dwelling, and significant traffic safety concerns regarding access onto the N80 national road.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant failed to demonstrate compliance with the local rural housing need criteria for an 'Area Under Strong Urban Influence' as set out in the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027.
- The proposed log cabin design is considered an 'off-the-shelf' structure that fails to respect the established rural vernacular and would set an undesirable precedent for similar developments in the area.
- The development would create a new access onto the N80 National Secondary Road where a 100kmph speed limit applies and fails to provide the required 215m sightlines, resulting in a traffic hazard.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Table 4.4Appendix 7Policy RH 10Policy DM RH 1Policy Trans 17National Policy Objective 19National Policy Objective 20
Decision Document Summary
The proposal sought the retention of a 129sqm single-storey log cabin dwelling and associated site works on a 0.755ha site at Clonreher, Co. Laois, fronting the N80 National Secondary Road. Laois County Council refused permission on four grounds: failure to establish a genuine local housing need in a restricted area, the unsuitable 'off-the-shelf' design which conflicts with rural design guidelines, the creation of a new access onto a high-speed national road, and the provision of inadequate sig...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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