Refusal decisions · 31 Aug–6 Sep 2026

Having regard to the illuminated nature of the proposed sign and its changing display, the proposed development would result in a distraction to road users which would endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard. Furthermore, permitting this type of development would establish an undesirable precedent for the proliferation of digital advertising in unsuitable locations, would be contrary to policies and objectives of the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028, specifically Sections 11.194, 11.195, 11.196 and 11.200, and would not adhere to principles of proper planning and sustainable development.

The proposed development is located on a Recorded Archaeological Monument CO112-101 Military Camp and is within the Zone of Notification for same as depicted on the Record of Monuments and Places map. Given the potential negative impacts to the Recorded Archaeological Monument and associated sub-surface features as evidenced by the Geophysical Survey 25R0284, the development, if permitted, would be contrary to proper planning. The application as submitted would be contrary to: Objective 16-2: Protection of Archaeological Sites and Monuments and their setting and contrary to Objective HE 16-7 which seeks to protect and preserve the defensive archaeological record of County Cork including strategic battlefield, ambush and siege sites, and coastal fortifications and their associated landscape due to their historical and cultural value. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

1. It is considered that the development by virtue of its dual agricultural and commercial usage on site that is located in an area zoned RA ‘Rural Area’ in the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, would materially contravene the zoning objective for RA to ‘protect and promote in a balanced way, the development of agriculture, forestry and sustainable rural-related enterprise, community facilities, biodiversity, the rural landscape, and the built and cultural heritage.’ Commercial use is not listed as a permitted or an open for consideration under the RA Zoning Objective. The proposed development would therefore materially contravene a zoning objective outlined in the Meath County Development Plan 2021- 2027, would set an undesirable precedent for other similar type future developments, and would not be in the interest of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. The subject site is located within the Central Lowlands Landscape Character Area as identified in the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, which is categorised as having a High Landscape Value and Moderate Landscape Sensitivity. It is an objective of the Planning Authority under Policy HER POL 52 “To protect and enhance the quality, character, and distinctiveness of the landscapes of the County in accordance with national policy and guidelines and the recommendations of the Meath Landscape Character Assessment (2007) in Appendix 5, to ensure that new development meets high standards of siting and design.” The existing commercial activity on site, which comprises the storage of haulage vehicles would introduce visually intrusive commercial activity into a rural landscape setting. Having regard to the scale, nature and visibility of the development, it is considered that the development would adversely affect the rural character and visual amenities of the area and would detract from the landscape character of the Central Lowlands Landscape Character Area. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to Policy HER POL 52 of the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, would devalue property in the vicinity of the site and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
3. The Planning Authority is not satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated that the local road network can safely accommodate the traffic generated by the existing dual usage on site. The Traffic Impact Assessment submitted fails to account for traffic associated with the existing commercial activities on the site and does not assess the cumulative impact of the combined agricultural and commercial uses. As the volume and nature of vehicular movements to and from the site is unknown, the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the existing and proposed development would not prejudice the safety and convenience of road users or adversely affect the carrying capacity of the local road network. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

1. The proposed development would be located in a designated, sensitive coastal High Value Landscape area as set out in the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028. Under Policy Objective RP5-5, it is a stated objective of the Planning Authority to seek to prevent inappropriate development and to strongly discourage development in such a Scenic and Coastal area except within established villages and subject to a suitable site being available and where a relaxation can be justified for year-round occupation for people who have lived for a period in excess of seven years in their local area and/or persons who have demonstrated that their permanent employment is essential to the delivery of social and community services. The applicant, whose intrinsic local rural ties are based at Gortnacarriga circa 4km due north, has not demonstrated strong local ties at this coastal townland of Corran Beg and the justification on the basis of employment within the townland of Cloghane is not sufficient and/or compelling. Consequently, the Planning Authority cannot support the development of this unsuitable site and as such the proposal does not meet the criteria for an 'exception' to this objective. The proposed dwellinghouse would therefore materially contravene this objective of the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 and would, thus, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. The proposed development would be positioned on highly prominent elevated lands in open uninterrupted view adjacent to the L-4401 coastal road being a dedicated Scenic Route within a dramatic coastal setting overlooking Barleycove and within the High Value Landscape Area. As stated in the Cork Development Plan 2022-2028, it is the policy of the Planning Authority to ensure that the character of all important views and prospects should be protected (Objective GI 14-12 and GI 14-13) and that any new building should respect the character, pattern and tradition that fits appropriately into the coastal landscape (Objectives GI 14-9 and GI14-10). Having regard to the highly exposed, elevated and prominent siting, any proposed dwellinghouse would result in serious degradation of the Scenic Route, seriously injury and transmogrify the scenic amenities of the area providing for a visually intrusive form of development that would fail to respect both the landscape and the character of the locale. The proposed development would, therefore, materially contravene the above stated objectives of the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 and would, accordingly, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.