Core Refusal Reason
The proposal was refused due to the applicant's failure to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need, the inappropriate backland nature of the development, and the negative visual impact on a designated Area of High Amenity.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant did not meet the criteria for a rural housing need in an area under strong urban influence as set out in Objective 6.41 of the County Development Plan.
- The proposed backland siting and 140m access driveway would create a harmful urban development pattern, sever agricultural land, and set an undesirable precedent for haphazard development.
- The dwelling's design and prominent location within an Area of High Amenity would result in a detrimental visual impact and fail to accord with the Wicklow Rural House Design Guide.
Cited Policies (CDP)
CPO 4.10CPO 4.14CPO 4.15CPO 6.41CPO 17.35CPO 13.16CPO 6.45
Decision Document Summary
The application proposed a two-storey dwelling and garage at Callowhill Lower, Newtownmountkennedy, on a site within a Level 10 Rural Area and an Area of High Amenity. Wicklow County Council refused the application primarily because the applicant failed to demonstrate a demonstrable functional social or economic need to reside in the open countryside. Additionally, the planning authority found that the backland nature of the site, accessed via an excessively long driveway, would create an intrus...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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