Core Refusal Reason
The development was refused primarily due to traffic safety hazards arising from inadequate sight lines and the creation of a new access onto a high-speed national secondary route (N78), alongside negative visual impacts from unauthorized boundary treatments.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The existing front boundary walls and concrete panel fencing are deemed to seriously injure the visual amenity of the rural area and set an undesirable precedent for similar development.
- The proposed development fails to provide the required 3m x 215m sight lines at the entrance onto the N78, creating a significant traffic hazard and endangering public safety.
- The proposal materially contravenes Policy TRANS 17 of the County Development Plan, which seeks to avoid the creation of new direct access points onto national roads where speed limits exceed 60kph.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Policy TRANS 17DM RL 1Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027Laois County Council Roads & Parking Standards 2007
Decision Document Summary
The proposal involved the construction of an agricultural shed containing stables and storage, a dungstead, and the use of an existing entrance on a 0.4ha site at Ballycorman, Ballylinan. Although the shed's design was considered acceptable, Laois County Council refused permission because the development would create a traffic hazard on the N78 due to insufficient sight distances and a breach of policy restricting new access points on national routes with speed limits over 60kph. Furthermore, ex...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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