Planning commission rejects exemption for Letterkenny car‑diffing events

Car‑diffing and car‑showing events at Tinney’s Coal & Oil in Bonagee, on the edge of Letterkenny, have been ruled not to qualify for exempted development.

In a decision dated 12 October 2026, An Coimisiún Pleanála concluded that the use of the land for occasional motorsport activities constitutes development and a material change of use, and therefore requires full planning permission.

The commission noted that the proposed events were limited to a maximum of 29 days per calendar year, with no single event exceeding four days, but determined that these limits did not satisfy the conditions for exemption under Class 37 of the Planning and Development Regulations.

A key factor in the ruling was the site’s proximity to two protected European designations – the Lough Swilly Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Lough Swilly Special Protection Area (SPA), the latter lying about 20 metres to the east. The inspector’s report indicated that an environmental impact assessment would be required for a motor track, further precluding exemption.

The decision follows a declaration by Donegal County Council on 12 May 2026, which had already found the proposal to be development and not exempted. Elliott Coffey of Ballyjamesfuff, Co Cavan, who sought the council’s declaration, referred the matter to the planning commission for review.

The ruling does not grant planning permission; it merely removes the basis for treating the proposed use as exempted development.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Deane Bayas / Pexels.