Retention permission for Inch development overturned by An Bord Pleanála

A decision by Donegal County Council to grant retention planning permission for a development on Inch that had been built without planning permission has been overturned after An Bord Pleanála found it had “resulted in significant alterations to the coastal landscape”.

An Bord Pleanála ruled not to grant planning for the development on the island’s coastline after an appeal was lodged by locals against the council’s decision in August 2023 to grant planning permission to Michael McDaid for the retention of the development. 

The application included creation of access road, regrading/levelling of site and creation of platforms and berms, installation of water and electrical infrastructure and connections from the site and construction of a shed with hardstand area and all associated works on a 1.95 hectare site Grange, Inch.

The appeal by Noel Jones, Christopher Jones, Calvin Jones, Olivia Jones and Ciaran Mulholland expressed concerns that included that the roadway now facilitates driving directly onto the beach part of the special area of conservation (SAC) and special protection area (SPA), there was removal of wetland and shrubland buried beneath soil and hard-core, there was removal of thousands of tons of soil from the site changed the landscape.

The applicant stated that the proposed development did not encroach upon the shore and there has been no evidence of any erosion as a direct result of development works carried out at the application site.

An Bord Pleanála inspector’s report found that the site “lies partly within” the Lough Swilly SAC and the Lough Swilly SPA.

The board ruled the development had resulted in significant alterations to the coastal landscape, within an area of especially high scenic amenity, and within an area of high scenic amenity.

The planning authority also ruled that the appearance of the agricultural shed

proposed for retention is not considered to be a traditional or appropriate design, and was “an incongruous addition within the landscape”. 

The board also ruled that there was insufficient information provided with the application inorder to carry out a Stage 1 Appropriate Assessment Screening and it cannot be satisfied that the development has not resulted in, and will not result in, likely significant impacts on the Lough Swilly special area of conservation and the  Lough Swilly specialprotection area.