Proposed glamping facility near Ardara refused by Donegal County Council

Plans for the erection of glamping pods near Ardara were refused by Donegal County Council for reasons including injuring the visuality of the area, creating noise and traffic nuisances, and setting an “undesirable precedent” resulting in a “haphazard form of development.”

The proposals that had been submitted were for three glamping pods located in Newtownburke, six kilometres west of Ardara, along with a car parking area, proprietary sewerage treatment, percolation area and associated site works. 

Glamping is a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.

John McNelis, the named listed applicant for the proposals, saw his application refused due to it being seen as contrary to the County Donegal Development Plan, 2024-2030.

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The Planner’s Report and Recommendation stated: “Having regard to the exposed and elevated nature of this High Scenic Amenity designated rural landscape, and to the proximity of rural one-off residential dwellings adjoining the site boundaries and dispersed within the wider vicinity, together with the absence of provision of any communal facilities, it is considered that the proposed development would form an obtrusive feature on the landscape at this location, would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area, would fail to be adequately integrate into the landscape. 

“The proposed development, by reason of its siting at this location, would militate against the preservation of the rural environment and would set an undesirable precedent for other such developments in the vicinity and would result in a haphazard form of development that would erode the rural character of the landscape, thereby causing detrimental change to the host area. 

“The Planning Authority further considers that the development would be injurious to adjoining residential amenities, would create a noise, light & traffic nuisance, and would create an undesirable policy precedent for glamping developments in rural areas that have the potential cumulatively to be severely detrimental to preservation of such sensitive landscapes. 

“Accordingly, to permit the development as proposed would materially contravene the aforementioned policies of the Plan and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.