An Bord Pleanála has overturned planning permission granted by South Dublin County Council to demolish the 1940s-built Lexington House in Monastery Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 and build 35 apartments and duplexes on its grounds.

South Dublin County Council granted planning permission in April for the development on condition that the developer extend the adjoining arts and crafts style local library, a protected structure, simultaneously.

However, local man Ronan Duffy questioned whether this arrangement had compromised the decision of South Dublin County Council: "How can the planning authority reach a fair decision when they are set to receive this land, let alone the monetary considerations?"

In his appeal to An Bord Pleanála he also questioned the demolition of Lexington House - a habitable house, whose garden has a large pond "and great character" and "could be enjoyed again".

Ronan Duffy also said that the proposed development would be located within three established housing estates but its density would be 37 units to the acre, compared to just 10 units to the acre of surrounding houses.

He said a loss of mature trees on the site would detract from the character of the area.

Monastery Estate Residents Association said the scheme would be "intrusive" and "injurious" to the residential and visual amenities of the area as a result of traffic congestion, loss of trees, inadequate provision of off-street car-parking to serve the library, and the height, mass, density and elevational treatment of the proposed development.

An Bord Pleanála refused permission on the grounds that the scheme would be out of character with the surrounding pattern of residential development "by reason of density, design , mass and loss of mature trees".

It said the development would constitute overdevelopment of the site "resulting in a substandard form of development for future residents".