Planning refused for Termon ‘glamping’ development

Planning permission has been refused for a development in Termon that proposed to include glamping pods, campervan pitches and a mindfulness area.

Donegal County Council refused permission for the development, proposed by Helen Vickery at Barnes Upper, Termon.

The planning application provided for the construction of 10 glamping pods, six stopover camper van pitches, a mindfulness and wellness retreat garden area consisting of meditation, yoga, steam room, sauna pods and an outdoor ice bath area.

The development was described as a ‘tourism based initiative’ that included the renovation, refurbishment and extension of an existing derelict stone building into a reception, laundry and toilet facility building.

However, the local authority has decided against the development.

In its decision the Council noted that the development proposed to access onto the N56 where a 100km/h speed limit applies.

“It is a policy of the Council not to permit developments requiring new accesses or which would result in the adverse intensification of existing access points onto National Roads where the speed limit is greater than 60km/h or roads treated to National Roads standards,” the local authority said.

“The Planning Authority considers that the proposed development would result in a material adverse intensification of an existing direct access point to a national road and would endanger public safety by means of a traffic hazard.”

The Council said it also had regard to what it called ‘the substandard character of accommodation proposed’ in its decision. In the decision, the Council said the accommodation proposed were ‘more akin to a holiday let chalets and not glamping pods’.

It said: “The Planning Authority considers that the development fails to achieve high quality and would result in a poor precedent in terms of accommodation offered to the tourism sector.

“Having particular regard to the location of the site, located remotely, not within walking distance of any existing facilities and services at a location which is not served by a footpath or public lighting, the development is considered substandard in nature and would create an undesirable policy precedent for glamping.”

The Council also pointed out the proximity to Glenveagh National Park, Derryveagh and Glendowan mountains, outlining that to grant permission would ‘be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area’.