Two Newtown planning appeals are turned down
AN Bord Pleanála has upheld two planning rejections in Newtownmountkennedy after appeals were lodged against Wicklow County Council’s decision to refuse permission last year.
The appeals involved a business and enterprise building (to include a country market) and a separate application for motor car showrooms, both at Mountkennedy Demesne.
In August of last year, Wicklow County Council refused Harvieston Ltd permission for a business and enterprise building consisting of an indoor country market, own-door starter employment units, enterprise units, childcare facility, food hall and kitchen, food business development units, toilet facilities along with parking and set down areas, relocation of existing pumping station along with ancillary site development works and services.
In turning down the application, planners maintained that the development would be contrary to the zoning objective and overall vision for this action area.
Harvieston Ltd lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála, which has upheld the council’s initial decision.
The Board found that the site was located within an area designated Action Area 4 in accordance with the provisions of the Newtownmountkennedy Local Area Plan, 2008–2018, and would therefore be contrary to the overall vision for the area.
Furthermore, it was found the proposed development would result in the ‘creation of a standalone and piecemeal development and which would compromise the sustainable and co-ordinated development of the site.’
The development would ‘set an undesirable development for other such development, would contravene an objective indicated in a local area plan for the area and therefore would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area’, according to the board.
Wicklow County Council also refused permission for motor car showrooms including workshop, office space, toilet facilities, parts department and reception area, canteen along with display forecourt, alterations to existing entrance servicing filling station and weighbridge associated parking and ancillary site development works and services.
Harvieston Ltd appealed that decision as well but Bord Pleanála has also refused permission for the development as the site is zoned ‘Employment’ in the Newtownmountkennedy Local Area Plan, 2008–2018, where the objective is ‘to provide for economic development, enterprise, industry, distribution, warehousing and employment’.
According to the direction for refusal issued by the Board, ‘motor sales’ would not normally be allowed in this land zoning unless in special cases were the use would not conflict with the general objectives of the zone.
The Board found that the proposed motor sales development ‘would prejudice the development of the appeal site for employment uses and therefore would contravene the zoning.’
The site location in an area designated Action Area 4 in accordance with the provisions of the Newtownmountkennedy Local Area Plan meant the proposed development was judged to be contrary to the overall vision for the area.