An Bord Pleanala has overturned a decision by Kildare County Council to grant planning permission for a 416-house development in the Liffeyside village of Ballymore Eustace.
Upholding an appeal by local residents, the board said the project was contrary to the County Development Plan, which afforded Ballymore Eustace "special village" status. The board also cited deficiencies in public transport to and from the village and a lack of proper road networks.
Ms Rosa Donoghue, spokeswoman for the Association for Ballymore Eustace Controlled Development, said residents were "overjoyed" with the result.
"We are particularly happy they highlighted the special status and said the development would ruin the character and special amenity value of the village. We had begun to feel disillusioned because we were told Dublin needs houses and we should put up and shut up. But we feel completely vindicated now."
A senior board official confirmed the judgment last night. The full ruling will not be made public until next week.
The original plan had provided for a total of 509 houses on a 62.5-acre site at Ballymore Eustace West and Broadlea Commons, with access from two points of the main thoroughfares. This was revised to 416 houses following a request for additional information from the local authority. Provision by the council for an element of "social housing" was acceded to and the site was reduced to 59.5 acres.
Strong oral submissions against the development were made by TDs, councillors and residents at a hearing in July.
On the other side, Mr Frank Benson, a consultant planner for the developer, Abbeydrive Developments, argued that the planning authority should not insist on low density development for the area.
He said the development was predicated on a proposed new water treatment plant and would cater for a substantial number of people who would work within the Naas-Newbridge-Kildare industrial triangle.
Among those who expressed opposition was the Labour TD, Mr Emmet Stagg, who last night said he was delighted with the outcome, "particularly because it sets a benchmark for Kildare County Council that it must work within the County Development Plan in future".
Others who made oral submissions against the development were Kildare councillors Mr Timmy Conway and Ms Mary Glennon, Labour TD Mr Jack Wall and the former Fine Gael Minister, Mr Alan Dukes, who welcomed the decision.
"The whole development was completely out of proportion with the village. It would have spoiled its nature entirely," he said.
