Refusal decisions · 24–30 Aug 2026

The subject shop front fascia signage including its proportions, design and material finish results in an overtly dominant advertising feature in this Architectural Conservation Area. The additional projecting signage and two projecting lights at the front façade of the premises results in visual clutter and along with the fascia signage has an adverse impact on the visual amenities of this streetscape and the Ardee Architectural Conservation Area. To grant permission for the retention of these works would be detrimental to the visual amenities of Market Street and would be contrary to policy objective BHC 31 of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027, as varied, which seeks to require that all development proposals within or affecting an Architectural Conservation Area preserve or enhance the character and appearance of that area, protect architectural features of special interest and ensure that the design respects the character of the historic architecture in terms of height, scale, layout and materials, would set an undesirable precedent for further such development and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The applicant has failed to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority that the retained surface water drainage system has been adequately designed and complies with Policy Objective IU 19 of the Louth County Development Plan 2021- 2027, as varied, which requires that all development proposals shall be accompanied by a comprehensive SuDS assessment including run-off quantity, run-off quality and impacts on habitat and water quality. The Drainage report has indicated that the existing outdoor beer gardens and pergolas/lightweight roof structures subject to retention permission have been constructed over existing long standing impermeable concrete hardstanding areas however it is clear from their google maps that this assertion is incorrect. The applicant’s own drainage report prepared by Hydrocare Environmental Ltd has stated that surface water from Beer Garden 2 is allowed to flow directly from the site and is collected in road gullies outside the subject site. This is contrary to Policy objective IU 19 which requires applicants to carry out soil permeability tests to design for soakaways to ensure surface water drainage can be managed on site and that it is captured as close to source as possible with subsequent slow release to the drainage system and surface water network. Accordingly to permit the retention of the beer garden and related structures in the absence of appropriate SuDS measures would be contrary to policy objective IU 19 and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and would set an undesirable precedent for other similar styled developments.

1. The proposed development is located within Rural Policy Zone 1 as designated by the Louth County Development Plan 2021 -2027 (as varied). This location is an area under strong urban influence and of significant landscape value. Policy HOU 43 of the Plan seeks to manage the development of rural housing in the open countryside by requiring applicants to demonstrate compliance with the Qualifying Criteria relative to Rural Policy Zone 1 set out in Table 3.4. Based on the information submitted, the planning authority is not satisfied that the applicant comes under the scope of the qualifying criteria for residential development in Rural Policy Zone 1 and as such, the proposed development would contravene the rural housing policy of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 (as varied) and thus would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. The proposed development is at a location within an area characterised by a proliferation of one-off rural dwellings. In order to facilitate this dwelling, this proposal would require the extensive removal of an established roadside boundary hedgerow to accommodate the development. This site is also located on a level higher than the adjacent public road and has no substantial screening or backdrop on its rear and southern side boundary. The proposal is therefore considered to be contrary to Policy objective HOU 44 of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 (as varied) which seeks to manage development of rural housing in the open countryside by requiring any new dwelling to be ‘appropriately designed and located so it integrates into the local landscape and does not negatively impact or erode the rural character of the area in which it would be located, Policy Objective HOU 49 which requires applications for one-off rural housing to comply with the standards and criteria set out in Section 13.9 of Chapter 13 ‘Development Management Guidelines’, Policy Objective ENV 39 which seeks to protect and preserve existing hedgerows particularly species rich roadside and townland boundary hedgerows and Policy Objective NBG 37 which seeks to protect the unspoiled rural landscape of the Areas of High Scenic Quality. Such development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of this area. REFERENCE NO. 26/60464 SCHEDULE
3. The proposed development is located within a holding where a substantial number of dwellings have been constructed. It is Policy Objective HOU 48 of the Louth County Development Plan 2021 – 2027 (as varied) to restrict residential development on a landholding, where there is a history of development through the speculative sale or development of sites, notwithstanding the applicant’s compliance with the local need criteria. Considering the substantial number of dwellings that have been developed within these lands, it is considered that the proposed development is contrary to Policy Objective HOU 48 of the Louth County Development Plan 2021 – 2027 (as varied) and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The proposed dwelling and garage, by reason of its siting and the site’s location in an area which has an excessive density and inappropriate suburban pattern of development, including ribbon development, would result in the extension of ribbon development. As such, the proposed development would militate against the preservation of the rural environment and would set an undesirable precedent for other similar inappropriate development in the vicinity. Accordingly, the development is considered to be contrary to Sections 13.9.4 (Site Selection,) 13.9.5 (Ribbon Development) and Policy Objective HOU 49 of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027, as varied, and would, if permitted, be contrary to the property planning and sustainable development of the rural area.