Greg Kavanagh, the young, pugnacious New Generation Homes developer, infamously reckons he is the Ronaldo of the Irish property market. Things have got a little Messi, however, at his latest project in Dublin's Rathmines.

Kavanagh’s Vimovo Leinster Road has already built nine houses and apartments at Grosvenor Manor in the trendy area on the south edge of Dublin city. The units went on the market during the summer for up to €800,000.

“Ronaldo” had hoped to score two extra three-bed units on a remaining sliver of the site but he has just been refused permission by the council. The planning inspector pointedly described the proposed development as “sub-standard”. One problem identified was that one of the proposed back gardens was just three metres deep. That’s less than 10ft – less a garden and more a green belt, I’d say.

Not to worry. Kavanagh has bigger projects to contend with. He submitted plans this week for 400 new homes on a site in Clontarf beside St Anne's Park, his 10th application to Dublin City Council this year.

He might not be as good as Ronaldo but he’s still prolific.