Core Refusal Reason
The proposal entails significant visual impacts due to the extensive excavation of an existing hill and the 'visually bland' design of the proposed dwellings, which are deemed inappropriate for the rural landscape context.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development involves significant modification to the landscape through the excavation of a hill bordering the R420, resulting in unacceptable visual impacts.
- The proposed housing design, consisting of two terraces of 'visually bland' bungalows, is considered of poor quality and unsuitable for this rural site.
- There are extensive outstanding technical concerns regarding DMURS compliance, pedestrian safety, road safety audits, and the capacity of the existing foul pumping station.
Cited Policies (CDP)
SICCDP-12DMS-81DMS-114Section 13.9.11DMS-99DMS-102DMS-104
Decision Document Summary
This application by Kevin & Anna Marie Maher proposes 16 single-storey retirement homes at Esker Ri Nursing Home, Kilnabinnia, Clara, Co. Offaly. The site is situated in a rural area between Clara and Tullamore, characterized by a hill adjacent to the R420 regional road. While the user indicates a refusal, the provided report recommends a request for Further Information (FI) due to serious concerns over the visual impact of excavating the hill, the poor architectural design of the dwellings, and...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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