Council turn down plan for Loughnavalley house

Westmeath County Council planners have refused an application to build a four-home development in Loughnavalley.

Jimmy Mulligan made the application for the construction of four single storey dwellings and a new entrance to the public road at Togherstown, Loughnavalley.

The planning application covered the construction of service road, footpaths, grass margins, public lighting, open space, boundary wall treatment and connecting to existing mains water, storm water and foul water services on site and adjacent site boundaries and all associated site works.

In the application, it was noted that the development falls within the curtilage of the Church of the Assumption and noted it is a protected structure.

The local authority planners refuse permission for the development, citing three specific reasons.

The planners said the proposed development is located on unzoned, unserviced backlands located outside the designated ‘rural node’ set out in the Westmeath County Development Plan.

They said the scale and layout of the development is considered is contrary to the Council’s Policy Objective for such locations, saying: “... the development if permitted would detract from the visual amenities of the area, would set an undesirable precedent for similar type development within designated rural nodes within the county and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

It suggested that the proposed development would “adversely affect the character and setting” of the Church of the Assumption.

The final reason for refusal was the absence of details regarding the provision of an adequate water supply and the lack of sufficient information about wastewater infrastructure, saying the proposal would be “prejudicial to public health and water quality”.

The plans were lodged on December 18, 2025 and the planners reached a decision last week.