Ex-AG Byrne withdraws planning application

David Byrne, a former EU commissioner and attorney general, has withdrawn a planning application for a holiday home in west Cork that had been granted planning permission by Cork County Council, despite the advice of its own planning officials.

Mr Byrne and his wife, Geraldine, of Park Lodge, Booterstown Avenue, Booterstown, Co Dublin, had applied to Cork County Council earlier this year for planning permission for the dormer holiday home at Colla Road, Colla, Schull, Co Cork.

The Byrnes have had a holiday home in a development of eight houses at Colla Road in Schull since 1989, but this was a separate development and they gave an undertaking not to live in the new house until they sold both their Dublin house and their other house in Schull.

The site for their new home is on the seaward side of the Colla Road and the council's area planner noted it was within a scenic landscape area in the Cork County Development Plan, while it also overlooks Long Island, which is also a designated scenic landscape.

The Cork County Council planner observed in his report: "This is a substantial dwelling, located in the coastal district overlooking the Long Island scenic area. The proposal would have an obvious visual effect when viewed from this scenic location."

The planner noted the application by Mr Byrne did not include any assessment of the nature conservation impact or evaluation of location suitability in an area that is a candidate special area of conservation status and is partly designated a national heritage area.

He pointed out the site falls within the green belt of Schull.

The planner's refusal of recommendation was supported and endorsed by a senior executive planner in May 2007, but the refusal was countermanded by council management on July 24th, when management sanctioned approval for planning.

However, An Taisce subsequently appealed the decision to grant planning to An Bord Pleanála, arguing council management had failed to take proper account of its county development plan and both national and EU directives on habitats.

An Taisce in its submission pointed out that ecological evaluation of the area is required for any development and alternatives, such as serviced sites in Schull, should be considered as a first option.

Cork County Council has confirmed Mr Byrne has withdrawn his planning application and a spokesman said it could no longer comment as it no longer had an application to consider.

Mr Byrne could not be contacted for comment.