An Bord Pleanála has shot down plans for a mixed-use scheme in the small town of Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, which has seen a glut of planning applications recently.
Going against the advice of its own inspector who dealt with the case, the planning board has refused Mountain Dale Properties permission to build 70 apartments and seven retail units on a greenfield site situated on the northern end of the town.
Mountain Dale Properties' plan is one of a number of major developments which are either proposed or under construction in Newtownmountkennedy.
Construction is already underway on a mixed-use scheme in the town which will provide a health centre, creche, nursing home, a supermarket, retail units, offices, cafe, hotel, a gym building, 131 apartments, and a total of 483 car parking spaces.
A second mixed-used scheme south east of Newtownmountkennedy has also been given the green light by An Bord Pleanála.
This scheme will see the construction of a health centre, creche, library, retail units, and offices, as well as 63 apartments.
The council is also dealing with a planning application for a 935-unit residential scheme.
In addition, an international-scale tourism and leisure complex incorporating, among other things, two ski slopes, a hotel and golf course is in the pipeline for a site close to the town.
The most recent mixed-use scheme was refused by An Bord Pleanála, which said it would seriously injure the amenities of Newtownmountkennedy and would result in a "poor quality, unsustainable residential environment".
The scheme would "militate against the maintenance of a stable community in the longer term", it added.
The large area of the site given over to provision of surface car-parking and the quality of open space were highlighted by the planning board.
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