‘Scorched sofa’ man is allowed an extension to his living room

A Galway City householder has successfully appealed against a decision by planners to prevent him building an extension to his home – claiming that the livingroom fire was scorching his furniture.

City planners felt that the extension would result in inadequate private amenity space on the site, but this refusal was appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

The single storey front entrance porch and livingroom extension proposed for a house at Innishannagh Park, Newcastle, can now proceed following the ruling by the Planning Appeals Board.

According to the Board the house is located at the end of a cul-de-sac and they considered that the development was small in scale.

They said that as the front of the dwelling at 61 Innishannagh Park was screened by a mature hedge, the development would not reduce the level of private amenity space.

The appeal was lodged by Michael O’Malley, who stated that the extension was required as the open fire in the living room had damaged and scorched his furniture.

City planners had refused permission for the development on the grounds that it would result in overdevelopment on the site.

They also referred to the unauthorised nature of a two storey structure in the rear garden and that the extension to the living room would facilitate this development.

The Council planners also said that the combination of the proposed development and the unauthorised structure in the rear garden would lead to a deterioration of residential character in the area.

But in his appeal, Mr O’Malley said that this structure was constructed as an exempted development that did not require planning permission.

 “The extension to the living room is needed as the open fire in the room has, over the years, damaged and scorched the furniture and is a fire safety risk for their grandchildren,” it was stated in the appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel