Developers at Belleek Castle have successfully appealed development contribution charges of more than €17,000 levied by Mayo County Council in relation to a proposed new car park, museum, shop, and restaurant at the historic north Mayo hotel.
An Bord Pleanala has instead ordered development contribution charges be set at €2,976.
Two appeals were lodged in relation to two separate planning permissions granted by Mayo County Council.
An Bord Pleanala ordered the removal of fees of €4,162 from the conditions attached to one planning permission granted for the development of a 30-space car park in front of Belleek Castle.
The appeal was lodged by Doherty Coleman Architects on behalf of Holgrove Limited.
The planning appeals board also significantly reduced development contribution charges levied in relation to a second planning permission granted to refurbish three outbuildings and change the use of the ground floor of one of these buildings into a museum, shop, and restaurant.
Mayo County Council originally levied development contribution fees of €13,815 but, on appeal, this was reduced to €2,976.
This appeal was also lodged by Doherty Coleman Architects, on behalf of Marshall Doran Collection Ltd.
Contributions of €1,500 for art in the county were removed by An Bord Pleanala because there is no such provision to charge this fee under the County Development Contribution Scheme.
The car park development was found not to be eligible for development contributions relating to footpaths, water services, roads, or amenities.
The fees relating to the refurbishment and change of use at the outbuildings were found to have been calculated on the basis of too much floor space.
