A decision to refuse planning permission for a large-scale office block in Dublin as it could jeopardise plans for the €4.5bn Dart underground has been branded unreasonable and unnecessary by the developer.

Jim Nugent, who famously gave a “dig-out” to former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, has had the €1.3m D4 apartment at Haseldene, Ballsbridge, handed back to a bank.