A contentious plan to develop a £12 million housing development twice the size of Doonbeg on the northern edge of the west Co Clare village was yesterday refused planning permission by Clare County Council.
In its proposal to develop 136-houses on a 40-acre site, M Fitzgibbon (Builders) Ltd had sought to take advantage of the anticipated tourist bonanza from the £12.5 million Greg Norman-designed Doonbeg golf resort.
However, the council turned the proposal down, saying the development would be out of scale with its surroundings, contribute to unbalanced development of Doonbeg and would be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.
The council also stated that the proposal, by reason of its mix of uses, represents an unacceptable form of uncoordinated development on a large scale. This would conflict with the long-term sustainable development of the village.
The council also concluded that the proposal, by reason of its scale, layout and design of the individual dwellings, would be out of character with the existing settlement pattern of the village. This would result in a neighbourhood of poor residential amenity.
In its decision, the council also signalled that it was to soon draw up a development plan for the area in response to the existing developmental and environmental pressures.
It said the housing proposal was premature pending the completion of such a plan.
The council also said the local public water supply and sewage system would not be able to cater for the development.
A spokeswoman for the Doonbeg Community Development Company Ltd, which expressed concern over the scale of the plan, welcomed the council's decision in refusing large-scale development which was not in keeping with the rural aspect of Doonbeg.
She said: "It is not surprising that the development has been rejected but we would welcome a scaled-down application to be resubmitted that would be in tune with Doonbeg."
An Taisce welcomed the council's decision and the move to draw up a development plan for Doonbeg. It said it marked a new way forward for Co Clare.
Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), an environmental organisation, welcomed the council's decision to refuse the proposed development "in some astonishment, given that each of the reasons given are ones which would also apply to the council's grant of permission for the hotel, chalets and golf course approved last year at Doonbeg". A spokesman said: "Unbalanced and unco-ordinated development that is premature in advance of a local area plan, an undue burden on sewage and water, out of scale, loss of character, unsustainable - where was this local authority when faced with Greg Norman and Shannon Development?"
