An Bord Pleanála grant permission for extension to historic Mayo lakeside cottage

AN Bord Pleanála overturned a decision by Mayo County Council to refuse planning permission for the construction of an extension to a 19th century building located along the shores of Lough Corrib.

Mayo County Council had originally refused planning permission to Noel Meaney to develop a 26 square metre single storey extension to the existing Lisloughrey Cottage at Lisloughrey, Cong and to construct an outbuilding to be used to store a fishing boat and ancillary boat equipment.

When refusing permission for the application, the planning authority stated that the proposed extension would significantly detract from the visual and historical prominence of Lisloughrey cottage which dates back to the 1860s and is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

The planners also felt the outbuilding would set an undesirable precedent for similar developments of this type in the future and for which no justification was provided while also citing flooding concerns.

However, Mr Meaney appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála claiming that the proposed development is in a secluded rural location with limited public access and the cottage is not included within the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) nor within an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).

The applicant also argued that the scale, proportions and design of the domestic extension and outbuilding would not result in excessive site coverage or an unacceptable loss of private open space, and therefore would not represent overdevelopment.

In justifying the need for the outbuilding, it was stated it would be used as a boathouse as Mr Meaney is a keen fisherman and that he and his family intend to move to Lisloughrey Cottage on a permanent basis. It was also stated in the appeal that they need to house their traditional wooden Corrib Lake boat which they use for fishing and due to the prevailing westerly winds and rain, the boat and outboard engines need to be stored indoors and presently the boat and engine are stored remotely from the appeal site.

In his report, Fergal Ó Bric, Inspector with An Bord Pleanála noted that Mayo County Council previously permitted a two-storey contemporary extension adjoining Lisloughrey Cottage and 'therefore, the principle of the development of a residential extension at the property has been established'.

He also noted that the extension will not be directly attached to Lisloughrey Cottage, but instead onto the southern gable elevation of the contemporary two storey extension.

“I consider that the well-proportioned and designed domestic extension would not detract from the prominence of Lisloughrey Cottage. Lisloughrey Cottage would remain the prominent built feature within the site and that the proposals would not be out of character with existing dwelling and permitted extension on site,” he stated.

Mr Ó Bric also found that Mr Meaney had established a 'sound justification' for a structure to house his fishing boat out of the elements and in terms of security purposes and was satisfied that the boathouse structure will 'not detrimentally impact the visual amenities of the area'.

Mr Ó Bric also found against Mayo County Council regarding any potential risk of flooding and recommended to the Board of An Bord Pleanála that planning permission be granted for the application subject to conditions.

The Board of An Bord Pleanála also stated that they could not identify any potential adverse affects the development may have on the Lough Corrib SAC and SPA and granted permission subject to five conditions.