Core Refusal Reason
The application was refused due to the applicant's failure to demonstrate a rural housing need, significant concerns regarding flood risk and groundwater vulnerability for effluent disposal, and potential adverse visual impacts on the landscape.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant failed to demonstrate a genuine rural housing need for this specific location, as their links were deemed to be with the urban area of Athlone rather than the rural hinterland.
- The site is unsuitable for the safe disposal of domestic effluent due to high groundwater levels and is located in an area at significant risk of flooding, which would be prejudicial to public health and safety.
- The proposed development would be visually obtrusive and detrimental to the character of the landscape, while also lacking sufficient documentation to rule out negative impacts on nearby Natura 2000 sites.
Cited Policies (CDP)
CPO 9.1CPO 9.2CPO 9.8CPO 9.13CPO 9.14CPO 9.17CPO 9.18CPO 9.19CPO 9.20CPO 10.105CPO 10.106CPO 10.111CPO 12.4CPO 12.6CPO 12.7CPO 16.32CPO 16.33CPO 16.34
Decision Document Summary
Michelle Kelly sought permission for a four-bedroom house, garage, and wastewater treatment system at Tullin, Garnafailagh, Coosan, Athlone. The site is located in a 'Strong Rural Area Under Urban Influence' near Lough Ree. Westmeath County Council refused the application on five grounds: failure to meet rural housing policy (CPO 9.1), visual impact due to the site's open topography, public health risks from high groundwater levels making effluent treatment unsafe, inadequate flood risk assessme...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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