Killybegs' Seamanship Centre refused student accommodation by Council

A Killybegs maritime vocational centre has had a planning application to provide extra student accommodation refused by Donegal County Council.

Donegal County Council refused permission to the listed applicant, Richard Timony, on behalf of the Seamanship Centre for reasons given, including “substandard level of residential accommodation” and the “blocking of access.”

The application sought the change of use of part of an existing premises to provide student accommodation containing five bedrooms, associated communal areas and ancillary development works.

Killybegs’ The Seamanship Centre offers professional maritime industry training to international shipping companies, as well as the offshore and yachting industries.

The two reasons for refusal were recommended within the Planner’s Report, with the first reason being “having regard to the internal layout of the proposed accommodation and in particular an absence of natural light or ventilation to serve the kitchen/living room and accessible bathroom, and also a lack of external storage for refuse bins, cycles, etc, the Planning Authority considers that the proposed development if permitted, will provide a substandard level of residential accommodation that is severely detrimental to residential amenities”

Secondly, it was written within the Planner’s Report that “the proposed layout of the site area provides for the parking of vehicles adjacent to the proposed doorway into the accommodation unit.

“This will result in blocking of access/egress into the unit and furthermore, the blocking of access/egress in case of an emergency. There is also a lack of provision to ensure pedestrian movements through the site or to facilitate disabled access.

“For this reason, the Planning Authority considers that the proposed development impacts negatively on residential and pedestrian safety and is contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”