Developer refused permission on Citywest centre

Property developer Jim Mansfield has been refused permission to build a €50 million convention centre at Citywest in Dublin after…

Property developer Jim Mansfield has been refused permission to build a €50 million convention centre at Citywest in Dublin after the planning appeals board found the location to be "inappropriate".

An Bord Pleanála said in its decision on the matter today that such a major facility should be located in a "core commercial area" such as a city centre or major town centre.

The board was ruling on an appeal by The Point Exhibition Company Ltd and An Taisce against a decision by South Dublin County Council to grant planning permission for the 6,000-seat centre last year.

Mr Mansfield's company HSS Ltd had sought permission to retain and complete the development.

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An Bord Pleanála said: "Having regard to the location of the site outside any designated urban area, remote from public transport infrastructure and other complementary facilities, it is considered that the proposed development in this location would lack ancillary supporting services and would be reliant primarily on private transport."

The board said it considered the centre would be "inappropriately located" and would contravene policies to reduce the overall growth in demand for transport. It noted the plan to extend the Luas rail line, but said the nearest stop to the development would be over a kilometre away from Citywest.

The Citywest Hotel, which would have been linked to the proposed development, said in a statement that the ruling was "disappointing".

"We will look at our options when we see the full report from the Bord. A detailed statement will be issued at that stage."