Kerry county councillors yesterday voted to grant planning permission to a one-off rural house in a highly protected area in a designated coastal zone.
The location is near one of the country's major blue flag beaches, Rossbehy, (also known as Rossbeigh) from which it will be highly visible and obtrusive, planners warned.
It was one of a large number of controversial one-off developments put through unanimously by councillors yesterday, against the advice of planners who warned of ribbon development and the destruction of scenic lands.
The proposed house at Rossbehy, Glenbeigh, will be in a scenic, open and exposed coastal location, 65 metres from the water's edge and the area in question is within a designated Special Area of Conservation as well as a Natural Heritage Area, planners advised.
Councillors were warned of public health issues in granting permission to a house which would depend on a septic tank in the area. However, Cllr Michael Cahill said the planner's report "amazed" him. The site in question was on a cul-de-sac alongside existing houses and the road was of good quality, he argued.
He proposed the Section 140 motion directing the county manager to grant permission and over-turning the advice of the planners. Councillors rushed to second Cllr Cahill and support from the 24 councillors present was unanimous when the vote was taken.
Many of the 14 one-off houses voted through by councillors yesterday had previously been refused, in some cases twice by the planning department of the council. Some had not been through the planning process at all. Most of the developments were on elevated prominent positions in scenic areas. Others constituted ribbon development and conflicted with the county development plan, adopted by councillors, to control the widespread dispersal of one-off dwellings in the rural landscape.
Councillors warned that planning was in crisis in the county and local people were not being accommodated.