Refusal decisions · 21–27 Sep 2026

It is a policy of the Meath County Development Plan 2021–2027 under RD POL 30, “To promote the viable re-use of vernacular dwellings without losing their character and to support applications for the sensitive restoration of disused vernacular or traditional dwellings”. It is also policy under RD POL 32, “To oppose the demolition and replacement of traditional or vernacular rural houses in order to protect the varied types of housing stock in rural areas of the County and to preserve the rural built heritage”. Having regard to the design, scale and form of the proposed development, and more specifically, the proposed demolition of an existing vernacular structure rather than its sensitive restoration and y! integration, it is considered that the development would materially alter and detract from the established nl vernacular nature of the subject site and surrounding area. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to the above policies and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable O development of the area. s se r po Pu g in w ie -V il nc ou C y nt ou C th ea M

1. Retention of the detached two-storey structure containing habitable accommodation and ancillary residential uses does not comply with the provisions of DM POL 15 and DM OBJ 49 of the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 relating to family flat accommodation. The structure is physically detached from the principal dwelling and does not form an integral part of the main house, as required by the Development Plan. Furthermore, insufficient information has been provided regarding a need for the family apartment and the capacity of the existing wastewater treatment system to accommodate additional residential use on the site. The development would therefore be contrary to the stated objectives of the y! Development Plan and to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. nl
2. The development for retention comprises of a garage structure which does not accord with plans as O approved under Pl. Ref. DA30480 and DA50118. The Planning Authority is therefore precluded from granting retention for the conversion of the ‘as built’ structure into habitable accommodation on the basis s that same is unauthorised. se r po Pu g in w ie -V il nc ou C y nt ou C th ea M

It is objective under the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (DM OBJ 50) to require all applications for residential extensions to propose a “High-quality design which respects, harmonises and integrates with the existing dwelling in terms of height, scale, materials used, finishes, window proportions, etc”. Further, it is policy under the Rural Development Strategy of the Development Plan (RD POL 32) “To oppose the demolition and replacement of traditional or vernacular rural houses in order to protect the varied types of housing stock in rural areas of the County and to preserve the rural y! built heritage”. nl The proposed development, by reason of its scale, massing, design and siting, in addition to a O significant departure from the original scope of the development proposal, would result in a visually dominant two-storey dwelling that would fail to integrate satisfactorily with the s existing site context and surrounding rural landscape. Consequently, it is considered that the se proposed development would establish a very undesirable future precedent and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. r po Pu g in w ie -V il nc ou C y nt ou C th ea M

1. It is the policy of the Council under Policy RD POL 13 of the Meath County Development Plan 2021–2027 “to protect agricultural or agri-business uses from unplanned and/or incompatible urban development” and under Objective DM OBJ 62 to ensure that agricultural development proposals are genuinely required for the purposes of farming and are appropriately justified. The Planning Authority notes that a previous application on the site under Pl. Ref. 25/61110 y! was refused, in part, due to the failure to demonstrate a clear need for the proposed agricultural nl building. Having regard to the information submitted with the current application, it is considered that the applicant has failed to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate a bona O fide agricultural requirement for the proposed development or to satisfactorily address the concerns raised in the previous refusal. In particular, no robust information has been submitted s regarding the nature and scale of the agricultural enterprise, the operational need for the se proposed building, or the functional relationship between the structure and the agricultural activity being carried out on the lands. po Accordingly, the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the proposed development constitutes a genuine agricultural development consistent with the provisions of Policy RD POL 13 and r Objective DM OBJ 62 of the Meath County Development Plan 2021–2027. If permitted, the Pu proposed development would establish an undesirable precedent for similar development in the countryside in the absence of a clearly demonstrated agricultural need and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. g
2. in It is the policy of the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 under HER POL 6 to seek w ‘to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne in accordance with the relevant guidelines and national legislation, so that its integrity, ie authenticity and significance are not adversely affected by inappropriate development or -V change’ and HER POL 8 ‘to ensure that development within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne shall be subject to the Development Assessment Criteria set out in Appendix 8, and the Development Management Guidelines in Chapter 11’. il There is a presumption against development within the Buffer Zone which is likely to have an nc adverse impact on the World Heritage Site and landscape within the immediate area. Having regard to the information submitted, and the development assessment criteria outlined in ou Appendix 8(a), it is considered that the proposed development, by reason of its excessive height, scale and massing, within the Buffer Zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brú C na Bóinne, would result in an unacceptable visual intrusion within this highly sensitive archaeological and cultural landscape. y nt The proposed development would adversely affect the character, setting and appreciation of the World Heritage Site and its associated heritage assets, thereby undermining the protection ou of its Outstanding Universal Value. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to Policies HER POL 6 and HER POL 8 of the Meath County Development Plan 2021–2027. C Furthermore, if permitted, the development would establish an undesirable precedent for similar forms of development within this sensitive landscape. The proposal would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. th ea
3. Policies HER POL 1 and HER POL 2 of the Meath County Development Plan 2021–2027 seek to protect, conserve and enhance the archaeological heritage of the County and to preserve the M character, setting and amenity of archaeological monuments and sites, including their associated views and landscapes. The application site is located in close proximity to Donore Church and Graveyard, a Recorded Monument of significant archaeological and cultural heritage value. 2660955 Notwithstanding the sensitive nature of the receiving environment, the applicant has failed to submit an adequate Visual Impact Assessment, photomontages, or other satisfactory evidence demonstrating that the proposed development would not adversely affect the character, setting, or visual amenity of Recorded Monuments Donore Church and Graveyard and its wider archaeological landscape. In the absence of such information, the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the proposed y! development would protect the archaeological heritage, character and setting of this monument. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to Policies HER POL 1 nl and HER POL 2 of the Meath County Development Plan 2021–2027 and contrary to the O proper planning and sustainable development of the area. s se r po Pu g in w ie -V il nc ou C y nt ou C th ea M