Core Refusal Reason
The proposal constitutes inappropriate backland development that would result in uncoordinated, piecemeal growth and creates a traffic hazard due to inadequate sightlines and a lack of legal control over the necessary access infrastructure.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- Although the applicant successfully demonstrated a genuine rural housing need based on local residence and personal health circumstances, this need does not justify development on a fundamentally unsuitable site.
- The location of the dwelling in a backland position is contrary to sustainable rural housing guidelines and would set an undesirable precedent for haphazard development that is out of character with the area.
- The development poses a significant risk to public safety because the applicant does not have legal control over the lands required to provide necessary sightline upgrades at the junction of the private lane and the public road.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 9.2 (Rural Settlement Strategy)Section 9.3 (Rural Area Types)Section 9.4 (Persons who are an Intrinsic Part of the Rural Community)Section 9.5.1 (Development Assessment Criteria)Section 9.5.2 (Ribbon Development)Section 9.15.2 (Regional and County Roads)Section 9.15.3 (Development Assessment Criteria)Section 9.18.1 (One-Off Houses: Sight Distances)Objective DM OBJ 43Policy RD POL 1Policy RD POL 2Policy RD POL 3Policy RD POL 38Policy RD POL 39Policy RD POL 40Policy RD POL 43RUR DEV SP 1RUR DEV SP 2
Decision Document Summary
This Inspector's Report concerns an appeal against the refusal of outline planning permission for a two-storey house on a 0.154ha site at Windtown, Navan, Co. Meath. The site, situated behind an existing bungalow in a 'Rural Area Under Strong Urban Influence', is accessed via a private, gated lane. The Planning Authority originally refused permission based on rural housing need and traffic safety. Upon review, the Inspector accepted the applicant's housing need criteria due to long-standing fami...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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