Refusal decisions · 19–25 Oct 2026

The proposed vehicular access to the subject site is located off local primary road L-2103- 36, where the vertical road alignment is sub optimum, where traffic speeds are high for this category of road and where visibility is restricted in a north eastern orientation due to the deficient alignment of the road, therefore the required 90m sight distances from the subject site cannot be achieved in the said direction. In this regard, and based on the information submitted with the planning application, the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the proposed development would not be contrary to DM Standard 28 of the County Development Plan 2022-2028, where turning movements generated by the proposed development onto and from the local road would interfere with the safety and free flow of traffic on the public road and would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard or obstruction of road users or otherwise and therefore would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. 3

1. Having regard to Policy Objective RH4 of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028, and on the basis of the lacunae in the documentation received, it is considered that the applicant has not satisfactorily demonstrated that they meet the housing need criteria as set out in the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028. Therefore, the proposed development is considered contrary to the rural housing provisions of the said county development plan. Accordingly, to grant the proposed development would contravene materially DM Standard 7 and Policy Objective RH4 contained in the Galway County Development Plan 2022- 2028, would be contrary to ministerial guidelines issued to the planning authorities under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), would set an undesirable precedent for similar future development in the area, and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. Having regard to the extensive internal access road required to serve the proposed development, the failure of the applicant to satisfactorily demonstrate the availability of adequate sightlines in a northerly direction from the proposed site entrance, the significant scale of roadside boundary intervention required to facilitate vehicular access to the site and the location of the site within a Class 3 Special Landscape Character Area, the Planning Authority considers that the proposed development would result in an inappropriate and visually intrusive form of development. The proposed internal roadway would introduce a prominent engineered feature into the rural landscape, eroding the prevailing rural character of the area and failing to assimilate satisfactorily with the receiving environment. The proposed development would therefore be out of character with the established pattern of development in the area, would represent a disorderly form of development, and would set an undesirable precedent for similar forms of development. Accordingly, the Planning Authority considers that the proposal would materially contravene Development Management Standard 28, Policy Objectives LCM1, LCM2 and LCM3 of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028 and therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. 3

1. To permit the proposed development whereby the site curtilage as delineated for in red outline on the site location map and associated documentation lodged traverses the boundaries of third party approved developments in the environs of the subject site would materially contravene the terms of Planning Ref. 25/60023, undermine the validity of the aforementioned approved planning unit and therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. Based on the submissions received as part of the planning application and having regard to Policy Objective RH2 and Policy Objective RH4 of the Galway County Development Plan 2022- 2028, and on the basis of the lacunae in the documentation received, it is considered that the applicant has not satisfactorily demonstrated that they meet the housing need criteria as set out in the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028. Therefore, the proposed development is considered contrary to the rural housing provisions of the said county development plan. Accordingly, to grant the proposed development would contravene materially DM Standard 7 and Policy Objectives RH2 and RH4 contained in the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028, would be contrary to ministerial guidelines issued to the planning authorities under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), would set an undesirable precedent for similar future development in the area, and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
3. Based on the information submitted, the plans and particulars received, it is considered that the applicant has not satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposed sightlines can be achieved without significant intervention to existing roadside boundaries and natural features along the L-82451 local road. Having regard to the substantial extent of roadside boundary alterations required to facilitate the proposed access, it is considered that the development would result in the removal and/or disturbance of existing roadside features and would be contrary to Policy Objective TWHS1 (Trees, Hedgerows, Natural Boundaries and Stone Walls) and therefore DM Standard 28 of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028.
4. Having regard to details as submitted and in the absence of detailing all separation distance in accordance with the EPA Code of Practice, the Planning Authority cannot be satisfied that the subject site can satisfactorily treat and dispose of domestic effluent on site in accordance with the EPA Code of Practice: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Population Equivalent ≤ 10). Therefore, if permitted as proposed the development would be prejudicial to public health and contrary to Policy Objective WW6 of the Galway County Development Plan 2022 – 2028. 3