Core Refusal Reason
Failure to demonstrate a local rural housing need in an Area Under Strong Urban Influence and the unacceptable environmental impact resulting from the wholesale removal of mature hedgerows.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicants do not meet the qualifying criteria for a rural house at this location as they are considered to have an urban rather than a rural housing need.
- The development would necessitate the wholesale removal of mature hedgerows to achieve required sightlines, which is contrary to policies seeking to preserve and protect native biodiversity.
- The proposal would set an undesirable precedent for the removal of landscape features and would be seriously injurious to the visual amenity and natural heritage of the rural area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Table 4.4Map 4.1Policy DM RH 1Policy DM BNH 5Policy BNH26Policy BNH27Policy BNH28Appendix 7
Decision Document Summary
The applicants sought permission for a 265sqm dwelling and garage on a 0.5ha greenfield site in Clonkeen, Portlaoise. The application was refused as the applicants failed to satisfy the 'local rural person' criteria required for areas under strong urban influence according to the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027. Furthermore, the planning authority found that the required removal of approximately 73m of mature hedgerow to facilitate access would be contrary to landscape conservation polic...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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