Core Refusal Reason
The proposal was refused due to potential adverse impacts on the water quality of the Lough Corrib SAC/SPA from wastewater disposal and the inappropriate sub-urban design of the dwelling within a sensitive Class 4 landscape.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed wastewater treatment system poses a significant risk to the water quality and conservation objectives of the Lough Corrib SAC and SPA, given the site's proximity to the shoreline and its location over a regionally important aquifer with high vulnerability.
- The contemporary, sub-urban design and scale of the dwelling are considered visually prominent and out of character with the sensitive Class 4 landscape, failing to comply with rural design guidelines for integration into the environment.
- The development would materially contravene multiple environmental and landscape objectives of the Galway County Development Plan 2015-2021, setting an undesirable precedent for similar unsustainable development in the area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective RHO3Objective NHB1Objective DS 6Objective RHO9Objective LCM 1Objective LCM2DM Standard 6DM Standard 7DM Standard 21Objective RHO 12Objective WS 11Objective WW5
Decision Document Summary
The applicant, Richard Gibbons, sought permission for a contemporary 292.79sqm dwelling and wastewater treatment system at Portacarron, Oughterard, situated in a sensitive Class 4 landscape near Lough Corrib. Although the applicant established a rural housing need, the Planning Authority refused the application on three main grounds: the potential for groundwater pollution and negative impacts on the Lough Corrib SAC/SPA; the failure of the sub-urban design to integrate into the rural landscape;...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
Note: If code appears below, the council site is blocking the preview. Please open the original file.