Residents in Dundrum, Dublin, have reacted angrily to the sale of land at a local amenity, Airfield estate.
The trustees of the estate confirmed yesterday they had sold 3½ acres, known as Dudley's Field, to developers Colum and Ciaran Butler, owners of the Leisureplex in Stillorgan. The land, which runs alongside the Wyckham bypass extension, was sold for more than €16 million.
It is currently zoned "open space" and would require a contravention of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan by councillors before it could be developed.
An Bord Pleanála is currently considering an application from the Butlers to develop a 15-storey apartment block with commercial and retail space on the site of the Stillorgan Leisureplex.
Airfield House and farm was the home of the late Overend sisters, who left their property in trust after their death for the benefit of future generations of Dubliners.
Last year councillors rezoned Dudley's Field for neighbourhood development, to accommodate a plan to help finance the development of the estate.
Following public pressure, the zoning was changed to open space, and the plan to develop the Airfield Trust lands was put on hold.
More recently plans to run a new road close to another part of the estate, a seven-acre block zoned residential, met with local opposition because of fears that it would lead to development.
Councillors are still to consider a proposal to rezone that piece of land to open space.
John Edmondson, chairman of the Airfield Trust, said Dudley's Field was peripheral to the main estate, and its sale represented a solution to the future needs of the estate.
"We now have the resources to implement our master plan for Airfield and ensure the long-term survival of the estate," Mr Edmondson said.
He said there was no question of any more of the estate being sold and added that the trust had no interest in developing the seven acres zoned residential and would not object if this area were rezoned to open space.
Rose Mary Logue, spokeswoman for the Save Airfield Campaign, said the sale was something locals had always dreaded.
"I know they are legally entitled to sell the land, but I question their moral right to do so. This is the heritage of the Overends, gifted to the people of Dublin," Ms Logue said.
Dublin South Green Party TD Eamon Ryan said he was bitterly disappointed and that retention of the current land zoning was the only hope of protection for the site.
"A recent precedent whereby green space along the Dodder was refused development, despite the fact that it had been sold to speculative developers, shows that it is possible for the council to protect this green space even if the trustees have sold it on," he said.