2360237
The development for retention consists of alterations to the Medical Centre granted under planning ref. no. 16/10 & PL 09.246382 as follows: (a) an increase in the ground floor area from 157.1sqm to 169.0sqm (b) an increase in the first floor area from 46.2sqm to 58.0sqm (c) elevational revisions to include the removal of the proposed stone cladding, revisions to the fenestration & external doors, and the inclusion of 2 no. dormer windows & 3 no. skylights in the roof of the 1.5-storey element. The development for planning permission will consist of (i) the change of use of the first floor from an administration area, staff room, staff w.c. & store room to a one-bedroom apartment, with associated parking & bicycle spaces, and (ii) a revision from the Heritage Centre granted under planning ref. no. 16/10 & PL 09.246382 to a proposed two-storey apartment block, comprising 4 no. two-bedroom apartments, a bicycle & bin store building, communal open space, parking, landscaping, and all ancillary site works to include connections to mains services
Core Refusal Reason
The proposal was refused due to its failure to protect the character and vibrancy of the village centre, contravention of specific zoning objectives resisting the change of use from commercial to residential, and a layout that provides substandard residential amenity.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The scale and form of the proposed apartment block and alterations to the medical centre are visually obtrusive and detract from the character and vibrancy of the Caragh village scape.
- The loss of permitted civic and commercial uses in favor of residential units contravenes the 'Village Centre' zoning objective and specific policy V CA1 which resists such changes of use opposite the local church.
- The proposed layout is dominated by hard surfacing and car parking, with poorly disposed open space, resulting in a failure to provide an adequate level of residential amenity for future occupants.