Core Refusal Reason
The proposal constitutes inappropriate backland development that would lead to the suburbanisation of a rural area and fails to maintain the mandatory 25m riparian buffer zone required for watercourse protection.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The introduction of a third dwelling on the plot creates an excessive density and a suburban layout that is at variance with the rural character of the area and sets an undesirable precedent for further subdivision of lands.
- The proposed layout fails to comply with the 'clustering' requirements of the Rural Design Guide, resulting in a backland development that detracts from the visual and residential amenities of the locality.
- The development fails to provide adequate information to justify a reduction in the mandatory 25m riparian buffer zone required under Objective CPO 17.26, thereby failing to protect biodiversity and the integrity of the adjacent watercourse.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective CPO 6.41Objective CPO 6.45Objective CPO 17.26Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 6Chapter 12Chapter 15Chapter 17Appendix 2 (Rural Design Guide)
Decision Document Summary
The proposal sought permission for a 225 sqm single-storey dwelling on a site north of Ashford, located within the Eastern Corridor Landscape Zone. The plan involved placing the new house between an existing family home and a previously permitted dwelling, effectively creating a three-house mini-development on a single rural plot. Wicklow County Council refused the application on the grounds that this backland arrangement would lead to the suburbanisation of the rural landscape and contravene es...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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