Return application for Mountcharles apartments approved by Council
Donegal County Council approves new application after An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned previous planning permission
Planning permission has been granted by Donegal County Council for the construction of two-bedroom apartments off Main Street in Mountcharles.
The listed applicant, Jan Mulla, successfully applied for the extension to the rear of the existing building to provide two one-bedroom apartments, with an associated bin storage area serving the entire development.
Donegal County Council had granted the applicant permission to build three two-bedroom apartments in the same location in 2024; however, An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned that decision in August 2025.
Regarding the previous proposal, third-party observations by appellants raised concerns that the scale of the development would overlook existing properties and have a “significant negative impact on privacy.”
There were also concerns expressed about fire escape safety, sufficient street parking space, and the capacity of the current sewer system.
It was considered in the Commission Order that the proposed development would “seriously injure the residential amenities of the adjoining property by reason of significant visual obtrusion and overbearing.”
A second reason for the refusal of permission was that the ‘daylight/sunlight study’ submitted with the application was “not sufficient to allow a determination whether the impact of the proposed development would result in a significant adverse impact on the residential amenities of the adjacent residential properties by reason of daylight/sunlight impacts.”
In a Planner’s Report, it was stated that having regard of the subject site within the village of Mountcharles, that “the proposed development would not injure the amenities of the area, would not be prejudicial to public health and would not endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard.
“Accordingly, it is considered that the proposed development would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”
Donegal County Council granted approval for the application with 10 conditions, including a condition that the applicant or beneficiary of the permission, shall contribute a payment of €5,500 in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefitting development in the area of the Planning Authority that is already provided or is to be provided by the Authority.”