Core Refusal Reason
The applicant failed to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need (Objective RHO 1) and the proposal presented significant technical and environmental deficiencies regarding traffic safety, effluent disposal, and ecological protection.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant did not demonstrate long-standing local intrinsic rural links to the area, failing to meet the housing need criteria required by Objective RHO 1 of the Galway County Development Plan 2015-2021.
- The proposed site entrance is unsatisfactory due to insufficient sightlines, which would endanger public safety by creating a traffic hazard, and the application lacked a completed site characterization assessment for safe effluent disposal.
- The Planning Authority could not be satisfied that the development would not adversely affect the integrity of the Galway Bay Complex SAC and Inner Galway Bay SPA, nor could it rule out negative impacts on the local bat population.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 3.7Section 3.8Section 3.9Objective RHO 1DM Standard 20Objective NHB 1Objective DS 6Objective NHB 2Objective NHB 3Objective AFF 5DM Standard 40
Decision Document Summary
The proposal sought permission to demolish a derelict building and shed to construct a new dwelling and wastewater treatment system at Moyveela, Oranmore, an unserviced rural area identified as being under 'strong urban pressure'. Galway County Council refused the application on five grounds, primarily citing the applicant's failure to comply with rural housing policy (Objective RHO 1). Furthermore, the development was deemed a traffic hazard due to substandard sightlines, and the application pr...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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