Latest refusal decisions.

The Planning Authority is not satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed drive-through coffee shop would not adversely affect traffic circulation, pedestrian safety or the efficient operation of the Golden Island Shopping Centre road n etwork. The submitted Transport Assessment does not provide adequate quantitative evidence, including traffic generation, queueing or operational analysis, to substantiate its conclusion that the proposal would have no material traffic impact. Furthermore, by reason of its inherently car-dependent nature, the proposed development would encourage additional private vehicle trips at a centrally located site where sustainable modes of travel should be prioritised. The proposal would reinforce reliance on private car use, undermine the transition to sustainable mobility and a low-carbon pattern of development, and is therefore contrary to the sustainable transport and climate action objectives of the National Planning Framework, including National Po licy Objectives 37, 66, 69 and 93, the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027, and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

1. It is considered that the proposed development, by reason of its siting, design and form, on a site, in respect of its elevational/fenestration treatment, the internal functionality, footprint, and its siting within an exposed landscape would fail to integrate appropriately within the surrounding landscape. The development as proposed represents a visually un-integrated design solution, not reflective of the quality design encouraged in the County Development Plan. The proposal as such falls short of design standards and is considered incongruous within the landscape, would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and depreciate the value of properties in the vicinity. Accordingly, the proposed development is contrary to policy CPO 16.32, CPO 16.33 and CPO 16.34 of the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021 -2027, Westmeath Rural Design Guide (2005), and if permitted would set an undesirable precedent for similar development of this type in the future and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. In the absence of satisfactory documentation to the contrary, i t is considered that the development would constitute undesirable haphazard development by virtue of its entrance onto the public road would endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard due to the unavailability at the proposed entrance of satisfactory sightlines and would interfere with the safety and free flow of traffic at a point where the maximum speed limit applies. Accordingly, t he proposed development is contrary to policy objective CPO 10.52 of the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027, which seeks to safeguard the carrying capacity and safety of the County’s local road network, policy objective CPO 16.33 to provide unobstructed sight distances of 90m from vehicular entrances onto the local road network and policy CPO 9.17 to ensure that the traffic movements generated by the development will not give rise to a traffic hazard.

Refusal reason evidence not yet indexed.