Core Refusal Reason
The application was refused due to inappropriate siting and access arrangements, significant environmental risks regarding wastewater disposal on a vulnerable aquifer with shallow soil, and a design deemed visually intrusive for the rural landscape.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed siting and the construction of a substantial internal access road would constitute haphazard and disorderly development that fails to integrate effectively into the rural location.
- The site overlies a regionally important karst aquifer with extremely shallow soil depth, posing an unacceptable risk to public health and water quality as wastewater cannot be satisfactorily treated on-site.
- The scale, massing, and design of the proposed dwelling would be visually intrusive, detracting from the visual amenity of the area and setting an undesirable precedent for similar developments.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 3.7Section 3.8Section 3.9Objective RHO 9Policy LCM1Objective LCM1Objective LCM2DM Standard 6Objective WW5Objective WS11
Decision Document Summary
Ciara Brett sought permission for a 202sqm two-storey dwelling, garage, and wastewater treatment system at Gortard, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway. Although the applicant demonstrated a rural housing need, the site is located in an unserviced rural area characterized by a regionally important karst aquifer with 'extreme' vulnerability. Galway County Council refused the proposal because the required access road was deemed haphazard, the shallow soil depth presented a significant risk of groundwater con...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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