Plans by the YMCA to make a killing out of part of their sports grounds in Sandymount by getting planning permission for 48 apartments have been well and truly dashed. An Bord Pleanala has just put the kibosh on the scheme, which was also to have included a new club house, an astro-turf pitch and floodlighting. The decision is all the more surprising because there is plenty of development in the area, the most notable of which was the Jackson Properties apartment and housing development at Radcliff Hall on St John's Road on the former grounds of the YWCA hostel.

Don't be surprised to see a new planning application soon.