Core Refusal Reason
The application was refused due to the failure to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need in a GTPS area, unsuitable site conditions for wastewater treatment (waterlogging), and significant adverse visual impact on a sensitive Class 3 landscape.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicants failed to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need or local intrinsic links to the area, which is designated as being under strong urban influence (GTPS), thus contravening Objective RHO 1 of the County Development Plan.
- The site exhibits poor drainage characteristics and waterlogging, meaning it cannot safely accommodate a domestic effluent treatment system in accordance with EPA standards, posing a risk to public health and groundwater quality.
- The proposed two-storey dwelling, due to its height, scale, and elevated position, would form an obtrusive feature that fails to assimilate into the sensitive Class 3 landscape, contravening Objective RHO 9 and DM Standard 6.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective RHO 1Objective RHO 9DM Standard 6Chapter 3Chapter 6Chapter 9Chapter 13Section 9.10.1Section 9.11Section 13.3Section 13.4
Decision Document Summary
The proposal sought permission for a 286 sq.m split-level dwelling and garage at Tóin na Brocaí, Co. Galway, within a rural area under strong urban influence (GTPS) and a sensitive Class 3 landscape. Galway County Council refused the application on three main grounds: the applicants' failure to substantiate a rural housing need under Objective RHO 1, the unsuitability of the site for wastewater disposal due to waterlogging and poor drainage, and the unacceptable visual impact of the dwelling on ...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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