Dublin councillors demand answers from planners

Several Dublin City councillors are demanding the local authority explain why the vast bulk of Sean Dunne's ambitious Ballsbridge development was initially given the green light.

An Bord Pleanála rejected the massive high-rise complex on Friday branding it a gross-overdevelopment - almost a year after the City Council passed most of it.

Fine Gael councillor Gerry Breen claimed questions must now be asked of the city's planners.

"How did the council planners make a decision to grant permission when An Bord Pleanála finds such a grant totally at variance with the Dublin City Development Plan 2005/11?" Mr Breen said.

"The development plan is the manual for all planning decisions by the professional planners in councils.

"There are serious issues thrown up by An Bord Pleanála's refusal and they must be ventilated in a public forum."

The massive complex included shops, offices and apartments - and a 37-storey tower.

Mr Dunne paid €379m in 2005 for the seven-acre site in the Ballsbridge embassy belt - one of the most expensive real estate deals in Europe at the time.

Last March Dublin City Council granted permission for most of Mr Dunne's development but refused permission for the 136-metre diamond-shaped tower.

Labour Party councillor and former Lord Mayor Dermot Lacey claimed the city council had essentially ignored and defied the Development Plan.

"The original decision of the Planners in Dublin City Council to ignore and effectively defy the City Development Plan has imposed huge costs on residents and elected representatives who have sought to defend the integrity of the Development Plan as democratically decided by the elected Councillors," Mr Lacey said.

Both party delegations have tabled emergency motions to be debated at tomorrow night's monthly meeting.

The Co Carlow-born developer said he was disappointed by the decision but vowed to try again.

An Bord Pleanála officials said the development would be contrary to the architectural character of Ballsbridge.

In a seven-page report, the authority also said it would have an adverse impact on the existing streetscape and protected buildings.

A massive underground shopping centre would also divert retail activity away from Ballsbridge and the general city centre area, officials ruled.