Rural Mayo house would be an 'obtrusive feature on the landscape' claim An Bord Pleanála

A PLANNING application to build a house in a rural part of Mayo was refused after An Bord Pleanála felt it would 'form a discordant and obtrusive feature on the landscape'.

An Bord Pleanála overturned a decision to grant planning permission to Leah Kelly to construct a single storey house on family land located at Devleash West, Ayle, Westport.

Mayo County Council had previously granted planning permission for the development in December 2024 but the decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by a neighbouring landowner.

The site which was described as 'relatively open and exposed' is located 1.5km south-west of Killawalla with 'little to no precedent of development in the general vicinity'.

READ: Planning granted for 32 house development in Mayo county town

Ms Kelly stated in the planning application that she currently lives and works in Co Clare but wishes to return to live in Mayo and raise a family. The site had belonged to her late grandmother and her uncle Padraic Kelly confirmed that his mother wished for Ms Kelly to receive a site to allow her to build a house when she wishes to settle in Mayo.

The planning application also stated that Ms Kelly had resided in the family home from her birth in 1991 to 1996 and between the years of 2010 to 2014.

However, this was disputed by Martin Costello of Devleash, Killawalla who claimed that Ms Kelly never lived at her grandmother's address and objected to the proposed development on a number of grounds.

Mayo County Council planners found that Ms Kelly did outline strong family links to the area and they considered that the development of a single storey dwelling is acceptable.

Mr Costello appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála and also claimed that the dwelling height and scale will 'interfere with views of the open countryside' and the house design is not appropriate to the rural location.

In his report to the Board of An Bord Pleanala, Stephen Rhys Thomas, a senior planning inspector noted that the site was 'elevated and exposed and significant works will be required to construct the proposed dwelling' and that the 'visual impact of the dwelling and associated development will be a noticeable feature on a landscape not characterised by one off rural dwellings'.

“The proposed dwelling itself may be in accordance with the design principles of the rural housing guidelines, however its location and position within the wider landscape fails to meet the site selection and house siting advice as set out in the guidelines,” he wrote while adding that permission should be refused on the basis that the landscape character of the area will be adversely impacted upon.

Mr Rhys Thomas also commented on the legal title of the site saying that the land is still registered in the name of Ms Kelly's grandmother and that her uncle is not the register owner and cannot give consent to build on the site.

The senior inspector recommended refusal on the basis the site is located within an upland area and 'it is considered that the proposed development would form a discordant and obtrusive feature on the landscape at this location'. He added it would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The Board of An Bord Pleanála accepted the recommendations of the inspector and refused planning permission for the development.