The development of a house on one of the most idyllic islands off the Galway coast has been rejected by the higher planning authority – overturning a decision by county planners to grant permission for the home.
It was proposed to retain and complete a partially constructed dwelling on Omey Island – but An Bord Pleanala has now poured cold water on the plan because it would impact on a scenic location on the island.
In September, Galway County Council granted planning permission for the retention of the house subject to eleven conditions being complied with – despite strong local opposition.
County planners said that the structure might be reasonably described as largely intact and agreed it provided an opportunity for the redevelopment in a manner which respected the integral character of the former dwelling on the site.
Planners had asked the applicant Peter Fitzsimons about the feasibility of the structure and received a structural engineer’s report that was to their satisfaction.
The application stated the Mr Fitzsimons had owned the site since 2002. He has been involved in the rearing and breeding of Connemara ponies while part of his landholding has been used as a work base for the restoration of St Fechin’s Church on Omey Island.
It was also said that Mr Fitzsimons has been a visitor to the area for more than 20 years and has been involved in various groups was well as being a sponsor of the annual Omey Races on the beach.
But the decision to grant planning was the subject an appeal to An Bord Pleanala by a number of local residents.
According to Bernadette Davin from Claddaghduff, the partially completed house is sited in a prominent, elevated, open and exposed rural location close to the shoreline at Omey Island in an area of significant scenic amenity and tourism value.
She argued that the development contravenes the policies of the planning authority who is to preserve the character of the landscape.
“The development in question militates against the protection and preservation of the coastline of Omey Island and Claddaghduff and is seriously injurious to the amenities of the area,” it was stated in the appeal.
In overturning the decision of Galway County Council, An Bord Pleanala ruled that the development proposed to be retained and completed, in view of its elevated and prominent siting on Omey Island, would break the skyline and be visible from tourist routes.
They stated that it would be located in a highly scenic coastal area in an area of ‘outstanding landscape value’ and would not assimilate into the particular location.
“Having regard to its prominent siting, it is considered that the development proposed to be retained and completed detracts from the character of the landscape and would, therefore, set an undesirable precedent,” the ruling stated.
Campaigners are now calling for the demolition of the property.
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