Bord Pleanála approves Bonniconlon polytunnel

Anton McNulty

AN Bord PleanΡla have approved planning permission for the retention of a polytunnel in Bonniconlon despite claims by a neighbour that it will attract rats and other vermin.
Martin and Rosaleen O’Boyle of Barber Hill, Bonniconlon appealed the decision to grant planing permission for the retention of a polytunnel on land close to their house. The polytunnel was erected by Jonathan Banks of Oatlands House, Bonniconlon, Ballina who has a limited company called Oatlands Farm Limited which is listed for the growing of vegetables and melons, roots and tubers.
The construction of polytunnels in rural areas normally do not require planning permission as they are deemed exempted development. However Mr O’Boyle stated stated that such structures should not be situated within 100 metres of any house other than the house of the person providing the structure. In this case he said that the polytunnel, measuring 126 square metres and 3.7 metres high, is erected approximately 40 metres from his house and within six metres of his site.
Mr O’Boyle claimed that this commercial activity was not shared with the planning authority when the application for retention was made and believes this activity will attract vermin to the area.
In reply to these claims, Mr Banks stated that he was not trading or growing produce on a commercial basis and the farming is at innovation stage only, using a small scale aquaponic system for research into the viability of this type of farming in Ireland. He added that the site will never be large enough for commercial aquaponics business.
Referring to the visual impact of the polytunnel, Suzanne Kehely, senior planning inspector with An Bord PleanΡla stated that she did not consider the height of the structure to be ‘entirely unreasonable intrusion in a rural landscape’.
While accepting that it will be visible from the neighbouring dwelling, she said the views were ‘extremely limited’ and did not consider it reasonable to refuse permission on grounds of visual intrusion.
With respect to the potential for nuisances, she dismissed the matter of vermin beings an issue and found that Mr Banks had ‘made efforts to further mitigate potential for nuisances’.
“On balance I consider the retention of a polytunnel of the scale and nature proposed in an established walled garden with its microclimatic and topographical conditions is a reasonable and appropriate use of the applicant’s land and the retention of such would not give rise to a serious injury of residential amenity,” she wrote.
She found that the polytunnel would not be visually intrusive, would not have a seriously injurious impact on the residential amenity and would not conflict with the provisions of the Mayo Development Plan. She recommended upholding the decision of Mayo County Council to grant retention and the recommendation was followed by the Board of An Bord PleanΡla.