Dublin Corporation has decided to grant planning permission for development work at the National Conference Centre in Dublin's docklands. However, the future of the project remains uncertain despite a meeting yesterday between the evelopers, Spencer Dock International and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA).

The DDDA issued an objection to the location of the project on Tuesday and the developers claim this decision, combined with "other unacceptable demands" are hampering the building of the centre.

After the meeting, the DDDA said agreement on the issues is possible. However the developers said that work will remain suspended until the DDDA gives a written commitment not to appeal Dublin Corporation's decision to approve the site submitted by the developers to An Bord Pleanβla. A letter requesting this commitment had not been received by the DDDA last night and a spokesman would not comment on the authority's likely response. He added that any commitments of this type are a matter for its board.

Mr Peter Coyne, the DDDA's chief executive, said earlier that the authority is "determined" to facilitate the centre and is merely awaiting details of the developers' plans before proceeding to make a planning scheme for the site.

"We weren't suggesting that it should move to another site, just slightly further east on the same site to provide sufficient space for the park element," Mr Coyne said.

"Our view is that there should be adequate distance between the waterway and this huge edifice," he added.

According to Mr Coyne, there has been no undue delay by the authority in making its own "Section 25" planning scheme for the site. Indeed, he pointed out that consultants Scott Tallon Walker had already been appointed to do this and were now waiting to start work.

What the developers needed to do now, he said, was to flesh out the figures with a three-dimensional model, so that the DDDA would be in a position to make a planning assessment of the overall proposal and see whether it conformed with the Docklands master plan.

Objectors now have one month to lodge an appeal to Dublin Corporation's decision with An Bord Pleanβla and if a significant number are lodged the project could be significantly delayed.

Dublin Corporation attached certain conditions to its planning permission. While most of them are regular conditions governing drainage and traffic, the corporation has stipulated that all sewers, drains and watermains shall be located east of the former dock wall within the site.

The DDDA says Dublin Corporation's permission only means an extra 1.5 metres for the linear park, whereas the DDDA is looking for more than 15 metres.

Relations between the developers and the DDDA are extremely strained at present and another issue which has now emerged is the question of the facilities which Spencer Dock International will have to provide alongside the centre.

The DDDA claim that when CI╔ agreed a joint venture with Spencer Dock International for the transfer of the land for use as a conference centre certain conditions were attached. These conditions include the provision for two parks (including the linear park) and a third level campus. In addition 20 per cent of the residential developments to be built by the consortium alongside the centre would have to be "social and affordable housing".

The developers are understood to be unhappy with these conditions and estimate they may cost them £50 million extra.