Core Refusal Reason
The development was refused due to its visually obtrusive siting on an elevated rural location, inadequate sightlines for safe road access, and significant public health risks arising from unsuitable wastewater disposal conditions on a site with extreme groundwater vulnerability.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The elevated and exposed nature of the site would result in a visually obtrusive development and a haphazard pattern of rural housing that detracts from the landscape character and sets an undesirable precedent.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate that necessary 70m sight distances could be achieved at the proposed entrance, creating a traffic hazard and endangering public safety on a narrow local road.
- Due to poor drainage and extreme groundwater vulnerability, the planning authority is not satisfied that domestic effluent can be safely disposed of, posing a risk to public health and surface water quality.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Policy Objective RH9Policy Objective LCM1Policy Objective LCM3DM Standard 46DM Standard 20DM Standard 28Policy Objective FL1Policy Objective LCM 2DM Standard 6DM Standard 8DM Standard 27DM Standard 29DM Standard 41
Decision Document Summary
The proposal involved the construction of a 204 sqm dwelling and domestic garage on a 0.205ha elevated site at Cnoc na Gréine, Co. Galway, located within a Class 3 Landscape. Although the applicant established a rural housing need, Galway County Council refused permission on four grounds: visual impact and haphazard development pattern, substandard vehicular access and lack of demonstrated sightlines, and environmental risks associated with wastewater treatment on a site with poor percolation an...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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