A decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for a hotel, food court and petrol station outside Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has been hailed by An Taisce as "an important national marker" against sprawl-type development.
Kildare County Council had approved plans by Donal and Liam Fitzpatrick for a 107-bedroom hotel, food court and retail space with a petrol station and toilets, on the basis that the overall development would act as a motorway services area (MSA).
In its appeal, An Taisce argued that the proposal was an "opportunistic commercial development which could not properly be described as an MSA, which required only a filling station, toilets and some small-scale ancillary convenience facilities".
An Bord Pleanála upheld the appeal, noting the scheme would be located on the opposite side of the M7 motorway to the town of Monasterevin and would constitute a form of haphazard development on unzoned lands.
The issue of MSAs is being examined by the National Roads Authority after complaints from truck drivers that they are forced to divert from motorways.
