A major hotel proposal for Kinsale, Co Cork, has been rejected by An Bord Pleanála following an appeal by An Taisce and a local business person.
Kinsale Harbour Lodge Ltd had proposed to build a hotel on the inner harbour area in the historic town centre near a road junction. The grounds for refusal given were that the hotel would be "visually intrusive, out of character with the pattern of development in the area and incompatible with the urban grain of the town centre".
They also said it was likely to "generate parking on the public road, create obstruction for road users and increase traffic congestion".
The board raised concerns about the legal status of the proposal to extend the development into the foreshore without consent from the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.
An Taisce welcomed the decision to reject the proposal, saying it would have "major implications for another major hotel and housing scheme in Cobh which is still in the planning process".
"This decision sets an important precedent for the reconciliation of future tourist developments with protection of heritage and environment," An Taisce said.