A woman hoping to build a house in the side and rear garden of her mother's home was refused planning permission partly because of an architect's drawing error, a court heard yesterday.
Ms Caroline Walsh was awarded €1,269 against David Grant Architects and Associates, Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, who said a drawing mistake may have led to size of the garden being misrepresented in the planning application.
The Dublin Small Claims Court heard Ms Walsh employed Mr Grant to prepare an application for a two-storey house in her mother's garden at Adare Road, Coolock.
City council planners turned down the application, stating the depth of the garden had been misrepresented. Coupled with the fact that there would not be enough amenity space for the dwelling, this compounded the reason for refusal.
Mr Grant told the court that although he measured the site, the drawings were done on computer by someone in his office. "It is possible a mistake was made from there but the (council's) planning department never wrote back and asked to change it. If it had done so, I would have changed it." Mr Grant said that even without this, the planning had still been refused because of the insufficient amenity space.
Judge Mary Collins said the incorrect measurement of the garden had compounded the reason for refusal and she awarded Ms Walsh €1,269.