An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for a controversial apartment scheme on the edge of Booterstown Marsh, Dublin.
Local residents had appealed against decisions by Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to sanction the scheme for a site straddling their boundary. The site in question is located on the seaward side of Merrion Road, opposite Trimelston Avenue and the Tara Towers Hotel.
Ashcastle Developments Ltd had sought approval to build 53 apartments in four blocks with basement parking on the city side of the site and an access route, park and 14 public parking spaces on the county side.
Refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála said the scheme would contravene the open space and recreational amenity zoning of the site, "contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
The second reason given by the board was that the proposed development would be premature pending the determination of a route for the proposed Eastern Bypass motorway, which would run through the area.
Local residents argued that the five to six-storey apartment blocks would be visually obtrusive, as well as endangering the fragile ecology of Booterstown Marsh, which is a protected area owned by An Taisce.
