Donegal County Council refuses planning for wheelchair-accessible glamping pod

A planning application for a wheelchair accessible glamping pod in Donegal has been refused by Donegal County Council. 

The application sought planning permission for the erection of one wheelchair-accessible glamping pod and the installation of a treatment system and all associated site works.

It was submitted by MC Design and Planning Services for the development at Letterilly, Glenties.

The Chief Executive's order outlined that it was the planning authority's view that the planning application is for "a modular holiday unit located on a remote rural site that is not within safe walking distance of local services and facilities".

This would be contrary to the provisions of the County Donegal Development Plan 2024 - 2023, the ruling stated. 

Regard was also given to the "substandard character of accommodation proposed on a visually prominent site, which meets the definition of a modular holiday unit and not a glamping pod, the proximity of the site to residential properties and lack of information in relation to management of the accommodation, and the general piecemeal nature of the development," the Chief Executive's Order outlined.

The order added that the "Planning Authority considers that the development fails to achieve high quality, would result in a poor precedent in terms of accommodation offer to the tourism sector, would be injurious to nearby residential amenities. and would create an undesirable policy precedent for glamping developments in scenic rural areas".

An appeal can be made to An Bord Pleanala within four weeks of the decision to refuse the application.