Hotels: Businessman Louis Murray failed in his bid to have the roof of La Stampa hotel at 35-36 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 demolished to build two hotel penthouse suites.

An Bord Pleanála upheld Dublin City Council's decision to refuse planning permission on the grounds the development would adversely affect "the character and integrity" of the buildings, which are protected structures.

Mr Murray was looking to build two additional penthouse suites on the fourth floor by building a mansard roof in place of existing pitched roofs on both buildings.

The zoning of the Dawson Street area is Z5 , "to consolidate and facilitate the development of the central area and to identify, reinforce and strengthen and protect its civic design character and dignity".

Mr Murray argued that the proposed roofs would have little or no impact on the streetscape and said while the buildings form part of a unified terrace, they are of individual character and the roofs are not very visible from the surrounding area.

In upholding Dublin City Council's decision the planning board went against inspector's recommendation to grant permission and said that such a development would "create an undesirable precedent".