HomeMy WebLinkAbout2560501 - F.I. Received Doc. - FI Response letter
D458/AK
8th April 2026
Monaghan County Council
Planning Offices
1 Dublin Street
Monaghan
Co. Monaghan
H18 X982
FAO Ben Clerkin
Re: Application for the proposed change of use and restoration of farmyard including alterations
and extensions to existing buildings and associated site works at Drummond, Magheracloone,
Carrickmacross Co. Monaghan for Mary and Póla Finegan.
Dear Ben,
Thank you for facilitating the online planning meeting with the applicant Póla Finegan and I
on Thursday 19th March ’26. It was very helpful to fully understand your reservations about the
stated proposed future use. It also afforded the applicant the opportunity to explain how their
ideas about the preservation and future use of the farmyard have evolved in recent years.
This cover letter is in response to a Request for Additional Information received from Monaghan
County Council for planning application reference 25/6050 for the proposed change of use of
the outbuildings to habitable accommodation as a single dwelling, dated 12th February 2026.
The Planning Design Statement accompanying this Additional Information responds directly
to the specific design related items requested and provides a detailed description and
rational for the design, layout and use of the existing farmyard structures. The priority for these
buildings is to preserve them into future and minimise interventions. Their re-use is the best
way of doing this. For many reasons the most appropriate use identified was as a private
dwelling for the owner’s family. They have familial connections to the place, it’s been in their
ownership for a long time and they have lived in the area for large portions of their lives. The
connection is more than the fact that Drummond Farmyard is a beautiful place with a
significant cultural presence, there is a personal attachment and a sense of identity to the
place for the owners. The buildings’ use as a private dwelling is logical as the individual
buildings can be easily adopted to rooms one would find in a house and the proposed
schedule of accommodation is common to any house. Although the dispersed layout of the
rooms is atypical, this was considered optimum to preserve the unique vernacular layout we
are starting from and to minimise the interventions to these historic structures.
RECEIVED: 08/04/2026
At the inception of the restoration of the cottage and prior to making the planning
application for its restoration (planning ref 2327), the client was considering the potential uses
for the farmyard and its buildings. At that time a potential use was as a retreat centre or
commercial entity such as short-term holiday or recreation letting. As explained in our
meeting, over the course of the restoration of the cottage and the passage of time, it
became clear that this type of use was not viable. Use as a private dwelling for the applicant
is far more practical, affordable and appealing.
The owners wish to retain as many of the original farmyard features as possible. The intention
is to change the farmyard layout and their buildings as little as possible retaining the existing
buildings footprint, walls and primary structure where possible and finding proposed uses that
can be integrated into the existing structures. The design approach to keep as much of the
original farmyard buildings as possible is good conservation practice and a sustainable
approach.
Further to the above, we respond to the Additional Information as follows:
Note: A pre-application consultation did not take place. You and/or your assigned agent
should liaise with Planning Section prior to the preparation and submission of this Further
Information. The submission should take a coherent account of issues that overlap/interlink.
No inference is given in requesting this Further Information that planning permission will
ultimately be forthcoming. Should the Further Information materially/significantly alter the
proposed development, you are obliged to re-advertise same in accordance with Article 35
of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended).
Response
During our planning meeting on the 19th March 2026 we clarified that a pre-planning meeting did take
place on the 23rd September 2025 with Monaghan County Council planning department. The summary
of this meeting was that Monaghan Co. Co. were supportive of restoration projects like Drummond
Farmyard noting specifically that ‘the County Development Plan is supportive of the re-use of
old/vernacular buildings’ and the planner requested a legend to outline the proposed uses in addition
to the existing ones. During the planning meeting on 19th March 2026 it was agreed that the proposal
would not require readvertising,
1. Having examined the submitted plans, the Planning Authority notes that the proposed
development comprises a dispersed internal layout across multiple detached buildings, four
bedrooms all with ensuites, several communal-type rooms (including a games room, sun room,
sitting room and kitchen/dining), and a standalone office. The overall pattern of
accommodation does not correspond to the normal functioning or spatial organisation of a
single private dwelling and raises concerns regarding the intended use of the development.
Furthermore, while a comprehensive Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment has been
submitted, this document addresses conservation methodology only and does not justify the
proposed residential layout or explain how the development is to function as a single dwelling
house.
Accordingly, in the interest of clarity and to allow for a fully informed decision, please submit a
detailed Planning Statement which:
(a) Explains the design logic behind the proposed internal arrangement.
(b) Demonstrates how the dwelling is intended to function as a single residential unit.
(c) Clarifies why multiple detached rooms and building blocks are required for domestic living.
(d) Provides justification for the standalone office and games room within a residential scheme.
(e) Confirms whether any part of the development is intended, now or in the future, for short-term letting,
tourist accommodation or any non-domestic residential use.
RECEIVED: 08/04/2026
Response
Refer to accompanying Planning Design Statement which comprehensively addresses each
1 of the above 5 points and provides supporting rationale for the design approach.
2. The Planning Authority notes that the current proposal is directly dependent on key
infrastructural and site-development works (concerning access, landscaping and
wastewater treatment) authorised previously under planning permission file number
23/27 – see conditions 2, 3 and 4.
Accordingly, in the interest of clarity and to allow for a fully informed decision, please
submit concise documentary evidence confirming that conditions 2, 3 and 4 of
planning file number 23/27 have been complied with, i.e. the details shall confirm
that the enabling works have been completed/implemented.
Response
Item 2 of Planning Ref 23/27 Site Entrance – The site entrance granted under planning
application reference number 23/27 has been formed. Photographs of this entrance are
shown below. This entrance is currently only being used for construction activities but will be
the eventual entrance once the construction work is completed. The finishing of the site
entrance has not been completed as it is intended that the construction work for the next
stage of the project will commence this summer and the applicant wishes to avoid any
potential damage to the new entrance caused by construction vehicles. It is the intention to
fully complete the site entrance in accordance with the planning permission once the heavy
construction work for the development has been completed.
Photographs of entrance
Item 3 of Planning Ref 23/27 Landscaping – The applicant has taken a proactive approach
to landscaping and has planted circa 60 to 70 new specimens since the planning
application was made for the restoration of the cottage. A selection of photographs of
landscaping are included in this cover letter. New or additional landscaping in very close
vicinity to the site entrance will be planted at the time of the finishing and completion of the
site entrance itself to prevent damage to planting in this area.
RECEIVED: 08/04/2026
Photographs of a selection of some of the new landscaping on site
Item 4 of Planning Ref 23/27 Waste Water Treatment System – The wastewater treatment
system has been installed and has recently been commissioned. Please refer to
commissioning certificate and the commissioning report confirming a 2-year warranty from
11th March 2026. Thereafter the applicant will take out a maintenance contract with the
installer.
Drummond Cottage hasn’t been inhabited for 60 years. It’s restoration as per planning ref
no. 23/27 is almost complete. When the work is fully done it will be an excellent example of
restoration and conservation practice. This planning application is for the restoration of the
remaining farmyard buildings enclosing the courtyard. These buildings have been used
occasionally in recent years for agricultural purposes and unfortunately due to infrequent use
have fallen into a poor state of repair, expedited by storms in recent years. The building
owner is committed to restoring these buildings so that their heritage and cultural value are
preserved for future generations.
RECEIVED: 08/04/2026
Drawings and Documents included in this response are as follows:
- D458 - Planning Design Statement
- D458 - Commissioning Cert for WWTS
During our meeting on 19th March 2026, it was agreed that the Further Information would not
materially/significantly alter the proposed development, and re-advertising was not required.
Trusting all of the foregoing to be in order, we now await to hear from you in due course.
Yours faithfully,
Adrian King MRIAI
McKevitt King Architects
Enc: RECEIVED: 08/04/2026