An Bord Pleanála has rejected an application for a 15-storey tower at a technology park in south Dublin.
The board ruled that the development was premature in advance of the preparation of a local area plan for Cherrywood by Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council.
Zoe Developments had applied to build a "gateway building" of almost 10,000 square metres on a site at the park in Loughlinstown. The building was to contain commercial and office space and a café. It was proposed as part of a new layout for the technology park.
The company was given approval for the development by Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council in August 2005 and the plan was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by local residents.
The Loughlinstown and District Residents' Association argued that the height of the building would "radically distort the landscape and skyline at a sensitive location". They also said that the council's approval was inconsistent with decisions in respect of other major developments in the vicinity. An Taisce and the Green Party also raised concerns.
In its ruling, An Bord Pleanála pointed out that the proposed development was located in the Cherrywood-Rathmichael special development area, where there was an objective to prepare a local area plan.
Dún Laoghaire Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe welcomed the decision and said that the council needed to prepare local area plans for areas earmarked for development.
