Meath glamping plan blocked over impact on homes and archaeological site
A proposed five-unit glamping development in Navan has been refused planning permission by Meath County Council, citing concerns over residential amenity, wastewater treatment and potential impacts on nearby archaeological heritage.
Glamping, or “glamorous camping”, has grown in popularity in recent years and typically involves short-term stays in semi-permanent structures such as pods or cabins in a rural or outdoor setting.
The application, submitted by Paul Kearns and Kathryn Walley in December 2025, sought approval for five one-bedroom detached glamping units, each with private amenity space, at Castletown Tara.
The proposed development also included a communal amenity area with an open pergola and outdoor sauna, seven car parking spaces, bicycle parking, and a service building comprising a reception and utility room, along with a wastewater treatment system and associated site works.
In refusing permission, the council said the development failed to meet planning policy requirements relating to the siting of tourism accommodation.
Planners found that the location, in close proximity to established residential properties, would give rise to an intensification of activity in “a predominantly residential setting”.
“The short-term nature of the accommodation, combined with the layout of the site and outdoor amenity spaces, was considered likely to lead to noise, disturbance and a loss of privacy for neighbouring residents,” the planner authority said.
As a result, the proposed development was deemed to be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
A second ground for refusal related to wastewater treatment. The planning authority said it was “not satisfied” that the site could accommodate a wastewater system that meets the standards set out in Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
It added that the applicants had failed to demonstrate that effluent could be safely treated and disposed of on-site, raising concerns that the development could pose a risk to public health.
The council also cited the site’s proximity to the Hill of Tara as a key issue in its decision.
The proposed development is located near a recorded archaeological monument protected under national legislation.
Planners noted that no Archaeological Impact Assessment had been submitted with the application, despite the site’s location in an area of archaeological significance.
“It is considered, therefore, that the proposed development may have a serious and adverse impact on the amenities of the area and on the archaeological heritage character of the area,” the planning authority added.