Appeal over refusal of 58 Wicklow homes is rejected
The appeal was submitted by Ronan O'Caoimh and applied to lands at Ashtown Lane, Hawkestown Lower, including existing dwellings, Elbren Cottage, Ashtown Lane, and Redkite Rest.
The 58 single and two storey homes were due be a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses, including bungalows, terraced and semi-detached dwellings.
The planning application also involved the proposed removal of the existing dwelling, Elbren Cottage, and the semi-detached single storey garage structure located on the site.
The appeal was submitted after Wicklow County Council refused the application in February, having considered the site's peripheral location, which would result in the proposed development being primarily car dependent, the existing undeveloped lands closer to the centre of Wicklow town, and the scale of the proposed development.
The approved plans of the local authority to upgrade Rocky Road, the L1099, as an improved access to/from the M11 to Wicklow town was also noted by the planning section, and the lack of any plans to deal with potential traffic increases on Ashtown Lane, the L5100.
An Bord Pleanála paid regard to the objectives of the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 before making their decision to reject the appeal.
It is considered that the design and layout of the proposed development does not respond favourably to the topography of the proposed development site in this location and would cause a poor contextual elevation of the proposed development from Ashtown Lane, which would result in the rear of dwellings being visible from the public road.
It was also ruled that the proposed development would adversely impact on the visual amenities of the area and would not, therefore, strengthen the character of the area or provide a coherent and legible urban structure.
It was also felt that, notwithstanding the relatively short vehicle access route to Junction 18 of the M11 motorway, the proposed development would be premature pending the provision of road improvements to the local road network that would provide ease of movement and avoid conflict between pedestrians/cyclists and traffic, and would therefore constitute a traffic hazard.
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