Developer Tom Bailey of Bovale Developments has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála to build 36 homes on a prime Dublin 4 site.

This overturns planning permission granted by Dublin City Council in March to knock the five-bedroom Ballsbridge house - Dunluce - which he bought for €6.2 million in 2005 and replace it with a five- and six-storey apartment block.

The 0.5-hectare site at 21 Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, is accessed via a private laneway off Anglesea Road. It runs down to the River Dodder and backs on to Merrion cricket ground. Eleven third party appeals were submitted to An Bord Pleanála, including one from Anglesea Road Residents Association who were concerned about the building style, its height, and issues such as overshadowing and overlooking, and the risk of flooding.

Reasons given by the board for refusing planning permission included that the site is located between the river and houses on Anglesea Road; the design, scale, monolithic nature and height of the proposed development; and "its proximity to the rear gardens of houses on Anglesea Road".

An Bord Pleanála also pointed to the restricted nature of the entrance of the site, and said the apartments would result in overdevelopment of the site and seriously injure residential amenities of property in the vicinity.

Dunluce was formerly the home of Pat Stephenson, head of North & Co estate agents and his wife Mary.

In 2000, they built a 464sq m (5,000sq ft) home on the site of the original 1920s house which they inherited from a family member.