Core Refusal Reason
Failure to demonstrate a substantiated rural housing need or intrinsic local links to the area, which is designated as a 'Rural Area Under Strong Urban Pressure' (GTPS) under Objective RHO1 of the Galway County Development Plan.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence of long-established intrinsic local links to the Derrydonnell More area, as the submitted land registry details for the family home only date back to 2002, when the applicant was approximately 17 years old.
- The proposed development is located within a Rural Area Under Strong Urban Pressure (GTPS) where housing need must be clearly established, and the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the applicant complies with Objective RHO1 of the County Development Plan.
- Granting permission would materially contravene Objective RHO1 of the Galway County Development Plan 2015-2021 and Ministerial Guidelines, setting an undesirable precedent for similar unsustainable development in the rural area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective RHO1Chapter 3 - Urban & Rural HousingSection 3.9 Rural Housing Policies and ObjectivesChapter 6 Water, Wastewater Management & Extractive IndustrySection 6.17 Water Policies and ObjectivesChapter 9 - Heritage, Landscape & Environmental ManagementSection 9.10.1 Landscape Conservation and ManagementSection 9.11 Landscape Conservation and Management PoliciesChapter 13 - Development Management StandardsSection 13.3 Guidelines for Residential Development (Urban and Rural)Section 13.4 Rural Residential Considerations
Decision Document Summary
The proposal involves the construction of a 270 sqm serviced dwelling and a 60 sqm garage on a 0.4076 Ha site at Derrydonnell More, approximately 5km south-west of Athenry. While technical aspects such as site access and effluent disposal were generally found to be acceptable, the application was refused primarily on strategic policy grounds. The site is located within a 'Rural Area Under Strong Urban Pressure' (GTPS) where applicants must demonstrate a genuine rural housing need. The Planning A...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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