Refusal decisions · 27 Jul–2 Aug 2026

1. The applicant has failed to demonstrate compliance with the provisions of Development Management Standard DMS16.80 of the Longford County Development Plan 2021-2027 and the ‘Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’. The planning application lacks sufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed development would not have a serious impact on the residential amenity of the existing dwelling and any future residents of the proposed dwelling by reason of its siting and design. The development would therefore set an undesirable precedent within the area and is considered contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. The proposed development would result in inadequate off-street parking provision, with only two parking spaces provided to serve both the existing dwelling and the proposed dwelling, contrary to the parking standards contained within the Longford County Development Plan 2021-2027. Furthermore, the site fails to provide adequate turning space, resulting in vehicles reversing onto the N55 National Road. The Planning Authority considers that this would give rise to a traffic hazard and would be prejudicial to the safety and convenience of road users. The development would establish an undesirable future precedent and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The applicant has not sufficiently demonstrated that the proposed wastewater treatment system and percolation area can adequately manage the disposal of wastewater from the site in accordance with EPA Code of Practice, Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (Population Equivalent ≤ 10), 2021. In the absence of this information in order to properly assess the impact on the local environment, to permit the said development would be prejudicial to public health due to risk of pollution and would not be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

1. The location of the entrance to the development is onto the N5, a national strategic route, at a location where the maximum speed limit applies. It is the policy of the Spatial Planning and National Roads: Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012) (DOECLG) as reflected in Policy CPO 5.15 of the Longford County Development Plan 2021-2027 ‘to protect the capacity, efficiency and safety of the national road network in County Longford by complying with ‘Spatial Planning and National Roads – Guidelines for planning authorities’ (2012). The entrance, additional turning movements and intensification created by the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard and obstruction of road users and materially contravene Policy CPO 5.15 of the Longford County Development Plan 2021 – 2027.
2. The applicant has not sufficiently demonstrated that the existing septic tank and percolation area can adequately manage the disposal of wastewater from the existing/proposed dwelling. In the absence of this information in order to properly assess the impact on the local environment, to permit the said development could be prejudicial to public health due to risk of pollution and would not be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
3. The Planning Authority is not satisfied, based on the information submitted with the planning application, that the proposed development, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, would not be likely to have a significant effect on a European site. In the absence of such information, the Planning Authority cannot conclude that the proposed development would not adversely affect the integrity of any European site. The proposed development is therefore contrary to CPO 12.62 of the Longford County Development Plan 2021 – 2027 and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.