Core Refusal Reason
The development was refused due to its elevated location causing significant visual injury to the landscape and the failure to demonstrate safe access visibility, including a lack of necessary third-party consents for sightline clearance.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed dwelling's elevated and exposed location would necessitate excessive excavation, resulting in a scarring effect on the landscape and a serious injury to the visual amenity of the rural area.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate that the required access visibility splays could be achieved, specifically lacking written consent from neighboring landowners to remove land and vegetation necessary for sightlines.
- The development would constitute a traffic hazard and endanger public safety due to the absence of sufficient visibility at the entrance and the lack of detailed design proposals for required roadside retaining walls.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective RHO5 of the Mayo County Development Plan 2022-2028Standard 7.6 of Vol 2 of the Mayo County Development Plan 2022-2028Mayo Rural Design Guide
Decision Document Summary
Paul Lavelle proposed the construction of a dwelling house, garage, and effluent treatment system at Corratowick, Westport, on an elevated rural site. Mayo County Council refused the application primarily because the scale of excavation required to accommodate the house and the necessary road visibility splays would cause unacceptable visual scarring and fail to integrate into the landscape. Additionally, the applicant could not prove the technical or legal feasibility of achieving safe access v...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
Note: If code appears below, the council site is blocking the preview. Please open the original file.