Appeal against decision to approve Buncrana beer garden built without planning

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Peanála against a decision to grant retention for a beer garden at the Cruiskeen Lawn

placeholder image — An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Peanála against a decision to grant retention for a beer garden at the Cruiskeen Lawn

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Peanála against a decision to grant retention for a beer garden at a Buncrana bar that had been developed without planning permission.

Donegal County Council granted planning permission in February to Aidan McCallum for the retention of the development at The Cruiskeen Lawn on St Mary’s Road.

The development includes the change of use from part-privately owned property into an external urban garden area in association with the existing licensed premises. It also includes raised planting beds, boundary kerbing and wall and fence enclosure.

One objection was lodged against the application which raised concerns including that the beer garden has caused disturbance to residents.

Permission for a similar application had been turned down by the council in October 2022.

Planners said that the applicant was seeking in the new application to address concerns given as a reason for the refusal of the previous application.

The council recommended that the application be granted planning permission subject to six conditions, including that customers using the beer garden be supervised using CCTV.