Refusal decisions · 24–30 Aug 2026

Having regard to the layout of the development, in particular the distance of the open sky area to the nearest fire exit, and the lack of assessment in respect to travel distance from this area, and the potential need for an external fire escape, in the absence of information to address the issue of fire escape from this area the development would be prejudicial to public health

1. The proposed mobile home, by reason of its design and construction, would be prejudicial to public health and would be seriously injurious to the amenities of the area. The development would be contrary to the established housing standards of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government that deems such accommodation as being unfit for permanent human occupation. Such a development would establish an undesirable precedence for similar sub-standard forms of residential development in the area, would be contrary to visual amenities of the area, to County Development Plan policy and to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. Having regard to i. the limited details submitted. ii. Objective CPO 6.41 which restricts rural development in the countryside to those with a housing need based on the core consideration of demonstrable functional social or economic need. iii. Objective CPO 6.24 To facilitate family / granny flat extensions for use by a member of the immediate family subject to protection of existing residential amenity and compliance with the criteria set out in the Development and Design Standards (Appendix 1). It is considered that insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the applicant would come within the provisions of Objective CPO 6.41, and neither would the proposal comply with the requirements for independent units as set out in the County Development Plan 2022-2028. To allow this development would therefore undermine the rural settlement strategy, would set an undesirable precedent for similar haphazard development, would be contrary to the provisions of the County Development Plan, and proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Having regard to the applicant's failure to submit a revised Social lnfrastructure Audit and to satisfactorily demonstrate that adequate childcare facilities will be available to serve the proposed development and the wider permitted development on the site, it is considered that the proposed development consisting of the provision of four dwellings and associated works on a site reserved for the provision of a creche would result in the unacceptable loss of social infrastructure for a residential area and would be contrary to objectives CPO 7.28 and CPO 7.29 of the Wicklow County Developmen I Plan 2022-2028 and Objective WTR6 of the Wicklow Town-Rathnew Local Area Plan, and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Having regard to the location of the existing dwelling within Tinahely (a type 1 small town) within a rent pressure zone, and Wicklow County Development Plan Policy Objective CPO 6.33 which seeks to ensure that any proposals do not undermine the provision of housing and that there is a sufficient supply of rental properties available for longer-term rental in the area and to ensure that proposals do not put increased pressure on the housing market, and the need / lack of rental properties in Tinahely, it is considered that the proposed development, by itself and by the precedent for which a grant of permission would set, would be contrary to the provisions of the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028, would result in the loss of long term residential stock within Tinahely Town Centre and within a rent pressure zone, would be in conflict with national policy, and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

1. The existing cabin style dwelling, by reason of its design and materials of construction, would be prejudicial to public health and would be seriously injurious to the amenities of the area. The development would be at variance with Objective CPO6.29 of the Wicklow County Development Plan2022-2028 as the dwelling is considered to represent a haphazard and substandard form of permanent residential accommodation. Such a development would establish an undesirable precedence for similar sub-standard forms of residential development in the area, would be contrary to visual amenities of the area, to County Development Plan policy and to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. The development for retention results in the existing wastewater treatment system on site serving the subject residential unit and the existing main dwelling on site. No information has been submitted with regard to the existing wastewater treatment system on site and CPO 13.17 of the County Development Plan states that private wastewater treatment plants for multi-house developments will not be permitted. The proposed development for retention would therefore be contrary to the objectives of the Wicklow County Development Plan and would be prejudicial to public health.
3. The Council’s settlement strategy is to require new housing to locate on designated housing land within the boundaries of settlements, and to restrict rural housing to those with a housing need based on the core consideration of demonstrable functional social or economic need to live in the open countryside in accordance with the requirements set out in Table 6.3 of the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 -2028. Insufficient information has been submitted to show that the applicant comes within the scope of the housing need criteria as set out under Objective CPO 6.41 of the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 -2028 as they have not demonstrated a bona fide need for a new dwelling in the open countryside in accordance with the requirements set out in Table 6.3. The proliferation of nonessential housing in rural landscape areas erodes the landscape value of these areas and seriously detracts from views of special amenity value. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
4. Having regard to: a) The layout of the vehicular entrance on site; b) Its location on the inside of a bend in the road; c) The proposed development which would result in two dwellings using this entrance and the additional traffic movements generated by the same and, d) The failure of the applicant to demonstrated that there are adequate sightlines available at this entrance; It is considered that the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of serious traffic hazard and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.