Cicol to appeal Dundrum decision

A decision by An Bord Pleanála to reject permission for the development of land close to a city farm at Dundrum, south Dublin…

A decision by An Bord Pleanála to reject permission for the development of land close to a city farm at Dundrum, south Dublin, has been appealed to the High Court, The Irish Timeshas learned.

Cicol Ltd has applied to the High Court for a review of the decision, taken by the planning board in October, to reject a development of 62 apartments and leisure facilities on land known as Dudley's Field, formerly part of the Airfield city farm.

The farm was left in trust to the citizens of Dublin by the Overend sisters. Dudley's Field was controversially sold by the trust to raise funds to enhance the remaining estate.

The field was zoned to preserve and provide for open space and amenities. However, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council approved the Cicol Ltd development in March this year.

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The decision was then appealed by a number of parties, including Friends of Airfield and local resident groups.

An Bord Pleanála rejected the development on the grounds that it materially contravened the zoning of the land, and would be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

According to documents seen by The Irish Times, Cicol Ltd is to seek an order from the High Court quashing Bord Pleanála's decision and wants a declaration that the board erred in its interpretation of the Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown County Development Plan.

The application for judicial review will be heard on Monday.

Fiona Gartland

Fiona Gartland

Fiona Gartland is a crime writer and former Irish Times journalist