Kilsharvan development turned town after Pleanala overturns Council's granting of permission

An Bord Pleanala has overturned Meath County Council's decision to grant planning permission to former presidential candidate and Dragon's Den Star Gavin Duffy and his wife Orlaith Carmody to develop 14 residental units at their horse yard buildings at Kilsharvan, Bellewstown.

Meath County Council had given the green light for the project in November 2023 which would see three existing stable buildings converted to residential use and the construction of a new residential building to provide a total of 14 residential units.

Five of the units would be long term rental residential units and the other nine units were proposed for short term tourist stays.

Gavin and Orlaith Duffy were granted permission for the development which also included a new separate American barn area to house fodder storage, a horse wash bay, six stables, a foaling stable and foaling assistant's accommodation, which would replace the existing equestrian facilities.

An appeal was subsequently lodged with an Bord Pleanala by Claire and Eugene Meegan and family of the Grange, Kilsharvan who are adjacent property owners and objected to the development.

Now the board has overruled the Council's decision by refusing planning permission citing three reasons and found that the proposed development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

It considered that the use of five of the units as long-term rentals would be contrary to the Meath County Development Plan which seeks to direct growth towards designated settlements in its settlement strategy.

It also found that if permitted, the development would result in the "intensification of development on this rural site in a hap-hazard way and non-integrated manner" and also that it would pose a threat to traffic safety given the proposed car parking spaces and turning movements proximity to the site access which has limited sight line visibility.