Core Refusal Reason
The development was refused due to its visually intrusive siting on an elevated landscape, the excessive removal of mature roadside boundaries, and a garage design that exceeded height standards, all of which were deemed contrary to the County Development Plan's design and landscaping policies.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed dwelling's siting on an elevated site (13m above the road) would be visually incongruous and contrary to the rural character and design standards of the Offaly County Development Plan.
- The removal of over 50m of mature roadside hedgerow to facilitate sightlines is contrary to DMS-50 and would negatively impact the area's visual amenity.
- The proposed domestic garage, with a height of 6.389m, exceeds the 5m maximum height limit set out in standard DMS-57 for the open countryside.
Cited Policies (CDP)
SSP-27DMS-45DMS-46DMS-47DMS-48DMS-50DMS-57
Decision Document Summary
The application proposed the construction of a storey-and-a-half dwelling, a domestic garage, and a new entrance on an elevated site at Endrim, Ferbane, Co. Offaly. Although the applicants demonstrated a local rural housing need under Policy SSP-27, the Planning Authority refused the proposal on design and environmental grounds. The decision maker concluded that the dwelling's prominent position on Endrim Hill would be visually obtrusive, the loss of extensive mature roadside boundaries would ha...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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