Cork man who was refused planning for bike storage box appeals decision 

Denis O’Regan said the council has in recent years approved similar structures in a similar context, and he said the unit could be further screened if requested.

Denis O’Regan, who lives with his wife and three young daughters in Ballintemple, Cork city, said he installed the bespoke “modestly scaled” unit to actually reduce visual clutter from the storage of bins and bikes in front of their home.

A man who was refused planning for a bike storage box in the driveway of his suburban family home amid planning concerns about “visual clutter” has appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

Denis O’Regan, who lives with his wife and three young daughters in Ballintemple, Cork city, said he installed the bespoke “modestly scaled” unit to actually reduce visual clutter from the storage of bins and bikes in front of their home which has restricted side access to the rear.

He has asked An Bord Pleanála to consider extending planning guidelines on secure bike storage within the curtilage of new developments to all homes, especially ones like his with restricted side or rear access.

Extending the guidelines would give homeowners with restricted access “equality of opportunity particularly where cycling is prioritised over car use”, he said.

His appeal follows the decision by Cork City Council planners earlier this year to refuse his application for planning retention for the 5.3sqm structure which they said “constitutes visual clutter” and “represents a disorderly form of development”.

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They also said the development would set an undesirable precedent for similar future developments in the area.

Now in a detailed appeal, Mr O’Regan has argued that the structure is of high-quality design, is sympathetic to its context, as opposed to off-the-shelf PVC or corrugated bicycle storage sheds, and is in keeping with the extension to their own home and the pattern of contemporary extensions in the area.

He said it is temporary, modest in scale, does not injure the visual or residential amenity of the area, and that the planning decision runs contrary to stated council aims to prioritise sustainable transport, to support compact liveable growth, and to promote a low carbon city.

The bike storage unit in the drive of Denis O'Regan's home.

He points out that the council has in recent years approved similar structures in a similar context, and he said the unit could be further screened if requested.

“Storing bikes in an easy to reach secure location helps to encourage adults and children to cycle more often. There is still space available on the driveway to accommodate off-street vehicular parking,” he said.

“In the context of current Cork City Development Plan where objectives include a low carbon city made up of neighbourhoods where people are encouraged to walk and cycle, I believe that the development in question, while minor, is in keeping with principals of the plan."