Builder appeals 'exorbitant levy' on agricultural project in Mayo
The levy imposition has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
A Mayo builder has appealed a decision by Mayo County Council to impose an "exorbitant" agricultural levy.
Castlebar-based developer Gene McConway was granted planning permission by the local authority to re-contour five hectares of land at Derrycoosh, Castlebar.
The project would use up to 165,500 tonnes of imported soil and stones for the consequential benefit to agriculture.
The permission came with a number of conditions including a development contribution levy of €87,474, which the applicant feels is "exorbitant" for "small-scale farming activity". The council's decision has been appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
The Planning Partnership, on behalf of Mr McConway, stated that while the planning permission is welcomed in principle, the planning authority was treating the development as "a commercial, rather than an agricultural undertaking".
The Planning Partnership commented that the applicant comes from a farming background and intends to purchase the land and for it to be part of an existing family farm holding in the wider area.
The appeal stated the proposed development is for the purposes of land reclamation and the applicant does not propose to "change the use of the land or to create a waste transfer station or infill or other form of deposition site".
“The catalyst for work is to render the lands suitable for productive agricultural use, in keeping with the applicant's farming background and activity, and with the benefit of the applicant's separate business interests in the construction sector,” the appeal added.
It was stated that the imposition of the levy would render the project impossible and that the planning authority should not be "levying significant contributions on agricultural development".
The site is described as comprising a "boggy heath that does not appear to currently be in active agricultural use". An environment and planning report prepared for the application stated that a ten-year operational term is proposed to carry out the work which will be completed in four phases.
