Undone bat survey a reason for denied Mountcharles apartments planning
Undone bat survey along with residential amenity and traffic hazards reasons given for Donegal County Council’s refusal to grant permission for Mountcharles apartments
Donegal County Council has refused planning permission for the provision of two apartments within the Old Town Hall in Mountcharles, highlighting the fact that a dusk emergency bat survey was not undertaken as a reason of refusal
C&C Property Investment Ltd failed in their attempt to obtain planning permission for two apartments to the rear of Lower Main Street, Mountcharles, within the footprint of the Old Town Hall Building, and the provision of communal open space area for both apartments.
In July 2025, C&C Property Investment Ltd were unable to convince An Coimisíun Pleanála to overturn Donegal County Council’s decision to reject planning permission for four apartments at the derelict Mountcharles hall.
Within support documents submitted prior to Donegal County Council’s decision, Rose-Marie Porter of MG Architects & Valuers, wrote: “The applicant has taken on board the reasons for refusal by the Planning Commission and is now proposing the development of two apartments, within the structure of the old Town Hall, with access via Lower Main Street through the permitted refurbished dwelling and apartments.
“By incorporating the two apartments within the old Town Hall structure, the applicant is complying with Policy UB-P-7 giving due regard to the public realm, open space and amenity and integrating with neighbouring developments.”
An Executive Planner of Donegal County Council provided three reasons for refusal of planning permission for the proposed development, stating reasons of urban residential amenity, traffic safety, and the failure to undertake a dusk emergence bat survey.
It was stated: “On the basis of the information submitted, there is an absence of a footpath or defensible space between the building and public road to provide for residential amenity for proposed residents.
“The positioning of the apartments and the proposed internal layout in proximity to a public roadway has the potential to cause loss of privacy for proposed residents and to increase pedestrian activity directly on the roadway.”
Regarding traffic safety, it was written: “The access laneway serving the site area is severely restricted in width and provides for a direct pedestrian link from the main street to the national school.
“Having regard to the location of the proposed development and associated increase in essential pedestrian access unto the roadway without a footpath or set back area, it is considered that the development has the potential to cause a danger to pedestrians and traffic hazard for vehicular movements.”
Finally, the Planner’s Report highlighted the failure that there was no dusk emergency bat survey undertaken, within the overall site area and buildings; therefore, the Planning Authority were “not satisfied that the proposed development would not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the protected species.
“Accordingly, to permit the proposed development would be in breach of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, would materially contravene Policy BIO-P-1 of County Donegal Development Plan, 2018-2024 (as varied) and would thereby be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”
The applicant has four weeks from when the Planning Authority made its decision to launch an appeal against the decision to An Coimisíun Pleanála.