A MAN has been ordered to demolish an “unauthorised” holiday home he has built on one of the country’s most scenic headlands.
But last night, David Galvin insisted he has done nothing wrong.
Mr Galvin said the almost completed two-storey house on Brow Head in West Cork is the repair and renovation of an existing farmhouse and is therefore an exempted development which does not require planning permission.
He said the council’s description of the holiday home as “unauthorised”, without considering the facts or taking into account engineering evidence, seemed like an absolute abuse of council power.
He added: “I am still available at any stage, and would welcome an opportunity to discuss the matter with planners.”
The council signed an enforcement notice last week against Mr Galvin in relation to what is says is an “unauthorised development” on a 20-plus acre site he owns on the headland.
The site overlooks some of the most unspoilt beaches, scenic bays and rugged headlands in the country.
The enforcement order, which Mr Galvin said he had not received by yesterday, directs that all construction work on the site stop.
It also directs that the house be demolished, that the site be reinstated and excavated areas grassed-over to return them to a natural state, and that Mr Galvin refund the €548.75 the council has spent investigating the matter.
Last night, he said he has no intention of demolishing the already roofed structure.
He bought the site, which included an existing and substantial two-storey farmhouse dwelling, last year. Work started on the holiday home early last month. Mr Galvin insisted yesterday that it was a repair and renovation of the existing property.
He provided detailed engineering reports and photographs which show that the new house, with a ground-floor measurement of 1,040 square feet, has been built on the same footprint of the farmhouse, which also had a ground-floor measurement of 1,040 square feet.
The pitch of the new roof has been changed from the original, but its height, at 6.2 metres, is the same height as the original, the reports say.
Window opes also had to be enlarged to meet modern fire safety regulations, the reports stated.
“It is my opinion, and that of my architects, engineers and legal advisors, that this comprises solely of exempted development,” Mr Galvin said.
He said he has sought meetings of his engineers and architects with council planning officials on several occasions but his requests have not been met.
“I would have hoped that the common sense approach would have been taken and that if council officials had any concerns that they would have at least arranged a meeting with me and my advisors to discuss the matter so that I could show them exactly what was done,” he said.
A council spokesman insisted yesterday that it is the council’s view that the structure is unauthorised.
“There is no planning application before us,” a spokesperson said.
The council is awaiting a response from Mr Galvin, he added.
Irish Examiner
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