Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development would be visually obtrusive due to its elevated position, breaking the skyline and failing to integrate into the rural landscape, exacerbated by its scale and reliance on significant ground works.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The dwelling's elevated position and height would break the skyline and require excessive ground reduction, resulting in a failure to integrate into the rural landscape and harming visual amenities.
- The proposal fails to cluster with existing farm buildings or dwellings, contrary to policies requiring development to integrate with the existing built environment to protect landscape character.
- Insufficient information was provided regarding the management of excavation spoil and its potential impact on pluvial flood risk and the nearby Split Hills and Long Hill Esker SAC.
Cited Policies (CDP)
CPO 9.1CPO 9.8CPO 9.10CPO 9.14CPO 16.32Section 9.4Section 9.5Section 9.6Section 10.5Section 10.9Section 10.10Section 10.12Section 10.13Section 10.14Section 10.15Section 10.16Chapter 11Section 12.6Section 12.7Section 12.8Section 12.9Section 13.6Section 16.3.7Westmeath Rural Design Guidelines
Decision Document Summary
The application sought permission for a storey-and-a-half dwelling, garage, and associated services at Cumminstown, Kilbeggan. While the applicant met the rural housing need criteria, the proposal was refused because the site is in a prominent, elevated position where the dwelling would break the skyline and require significant 'cutting' of the landscape. The planning authority concluded that the development would scar the landscape, fail to integrate with existing structures, and lacked suffici...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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