2377
for the provision of a 24 hours opening Service Area and Electric Vehicle charging hub and all associated works on a site of approximately 1.83 hectares in area. The proposed development includes 20 no. EV charging points (parking spaces) with a canopy over (maximum height of 3.21 metres); 6 no. general vehicle fuel pumps islands with a canopy over (maximum height of 5.6 metres) and HGV fuel pumps with underground fuel storage tanks and ancillary pipe works. Provision is made for an amenity/services building with a gross floor area of approximately 1.028sq.m that includes: a retail convenience store with part off-licence (total 100 sq.m net sales area; including ancillary off-licence of 10sq.m); 2 no food outlets (1 no. with a Drive-Thru function) and a coffee area, communal seating area, ancillary food preparation area, internal circulation area, toilets and back of house area including storage and office. The service area building will be predominantly 6.5m high, with a central 'pop-up' measuring 7.9m high (containing screened plant). Externally, provision is made for external seating; screened storage area; 63 no. standard car parking spaces, 4 bo. accessible spaces, 2 no. service bays, 2 no. waiting bays, 3 no. coach parking spaces, and 14 no. HGV parking spaces, 8 no. bicycle parking spaces. A total of 37 no. signs (both illumniated and non-illuminated) are proposed (with a cumulative area of approximately 208 sq.m) to include both wall mounted signage and free-standing. The totem signs will measure 8.83m and 17.5m high. Provision of on-site temporary foul treatment system and percolation area as granted on the site under Reg. Ref. 18/647. Realigned access road and new pedestrian path linking back to the existing footpath network in Mullinavat Village (as previously conditioned for a motorway service area on this site under Reg. Ref. P17/456). Other associated works include the provision of an ESB sub-station (28sq.m); regrading of existing site levels; and all other ancillary site development, utilities, landscaping, lighting, roof mounted PV panels and boundary works.
Core Refusal Reason
The proposal is considered premature due to the lack of capacity in public water and wastewater infrastructure and the potential risk to public health and the environment from on-site effluent discharge in an area with existing high nitrate levels.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development is premature pending the upgrade of the Mullinavat Wastewater Treatment System and the availability of sufficient public water infrastructure to serve the site.
- The Planning Authority is not satisfied that on-site effluent discharge can be achieved without risk to public health or the environment, given that nitrate levels in the area already exceed EPA intervention thresholds.
- The application lacks a required Tier 3 risk assessment for wastewater discharge to groundwater, making it impossible to determine the cumulative environmental impact alongside a proposed adjacent nursing home development.