Sir, - Your Correspondent H. W. Schnittger (July 7th) complains that architects are allowing the destruction of coastal communities for commercial gain, through the design of holiday homes.
I am an architect and, on behalf of a client, I appealed against the decision of a county council to grant planning permission for six houses to be built in a position which would obstruct the last high-level vista over the estuary of a river at a picturesque seaside town. The appeal to An Bord Pleanala was upheld.
Immediately afterwards, the developer applied for a further planning permission on the same site, for more than twice as many houses. Permission was granted and our appeal to an Bord Pleanala on the same grounds as before was not upheld.
Very often these schemes contravene the broad policy proposals contained in county development plans. Most of the housing schemes are not designed by examination-qualified architects, but by self-styled architects.
It is certainly right to say that the fragile landscape on our coasts is very easily damaged, to the detriment of both the local community and those seeking to admire the beauties of nature.
One has only to go to the Costa Brava to see what greed can do in a few years to a beautiful, wild coastal environment.-Yours, etc.,
Mary O'Carroll, Eagle Lodge, Convent Road, Roscommon.