Kinsale holiday home owners refused permission to let house as short-stay tourist accommodation
Council planners observed there was a clear imbalance between long-term renting and short-term tourist accommodation in Kinsale.
An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for the use of a property close to the waterfront in Kinsale, Co Cork, for short-stay tourist lettings, as it would contribute to the existing shortage of long-term rental accommodation in the town.
The board upheld the decision by Cork County Council to refuse retention permission for the use of the house at Viking Wharf in Kinsale for tourist accommodation, which the local authority said was “unacceptable".
The property’s owners, Denis and Inge Vaughan Buckley, who are based in Howth, Co Dublin, had applied for retention permission for use of the property as both a holiday home for family members as well as for short-term holiday lettings at other times.
An Bord Pleanála said the proposed use of the property for tourist accommodation would be contrary to both national and local housing policy.
The board said it had taken into account that the three-bedroom terraced house, which is located within a designated rent pressure zone (RPZ) and within walking distance of the centre of Kinsale, was suitable for long-term letting.
It also noted there was a lack of sufficient evidence to demonstrate the site already had a specific grant of planning permission for use as a holiday home or short-term letting.
An Bord Pleanála pointed out the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 sets a strategic aim for additional residential development to be provided in Kinsale, which would reinforce the town’s compact form and to focus on the better utilisation of existing buildings.
For that reason, the board said the proposal by the Vaughan Buckleys to use the property for short-term letting “would contribute to the existing shortage of long-term rented accommodation available in the town”.
The board rejected the recommendation of its own planning inspector, who recommended granting retention permission for the change of use to short-term letting.
It acknowledged the competing demands for residential and tourism accommodation in Kinsale but restated its reasons, including the site’s location in a RPZ.
Cork County Council had also highlighted the proposed retention of short-term letting of the property contravened the Government’s national housing policy that seeks to regular short-term letting.
Council planners observed there was a clear imbalance between long-term renting and short-term tourist accommodation in Kinsale.
They noted there were 15 properties in the Kinsale area advertised for rent on Daft.ie, while 15 entire homes and apartments in the town were advertised on tourist accommodation site booking.com at a time when there were 50 approved households with a need for three- and four-bedroom homes were on the council’s housing waiting list.
Officials accepted the use of the property as a holiday home by the applicants and other family members was unaffected by the planning application.
In their appeal, the Vaughan Buckleys said they had provided undisputed sources of evidence to show the property had been used as a short-term let and as a family holiday home continuously since 2009.
They also noted they were immune from any enforcement action being taken against them under “the seven-year rule” under the Planning & Development Act 2000 for continuing to use the property as a short-term let.
The couple explained the sole reason they sought retention permission was to re-register the property with Fáilte Ireland and to be on the proposed EU short-term letting register, which will require proof of planning permission to allow them to advertise the house on Fáilte Ireland’s website and booking.com.
They informed An Bord Pleanála the house at Viking Wharf had been bought in 2008.
They also said they had extended and upgraded the property “at very considerable expense” and it was given a four-star rating for self-catering accommodation by Bord Fáilte.
They pointed out they never had any complaints from neighbours or contact from the council about its use as tourist accommodation.
The couple said they have a strict policy of no hen or stag parties and have never advertised on Airbnb.
“We use the house very regularly ourselves and there is zero possibility of us either selling or long-term renting out the house, so to put it to use in Kinsale’s tourist economy seems a far more efficient use of the property than leaving it stand vacant when our own family and friends are not using it,” they added.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
