A decision by South Dublin County Council to refuse planning permission for an apartment and dining complex next to one of Ireland's oldest round towers has been appealed by the developer.
Mr Rory Burgess has asked An Bord Pleanála to conduct an oral hearing into the planning application, which he claimed had been undermined by "a politically motivated agenda" to gain public control of his land.
Describing the application as of "national significance", planning consultants for Mr Burgess said it sought to address "the long-standing neglect" of the 8th century national monument in Clondalkin.
The consultants said the application for a bar/restaurant and apartment complex, on a 0.4 acre site within metres of the tower, "represents the culmination of a long process of discussion and consultation between the applicant and local authority".
Four years ago, Mr Burgess reached an agreement with the council for a "cultural and heritage/residential/commercial"development of the site under a land-swap deal.
However, councillors last month refused planning permission for the development, and voted to remove the objective of a development on the site from its county development plan.
The refusal followed a major public campaign against the development, which was supported by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen.
Warning of a possible legal challenge, the consultants said: "Political influences and motives, which seek to place all the lands in public ownership, have played a central role in the consideration by the council of this application, resulting in significant backtracking on the part of the council."
An Bord Pleanála is due to rule on the case within 18 weeks.
