Two of Dublin’s busiest property developers have recently lost An Bord Pleanála appeals in relation to proposed developments in Foxrock following Dún- Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s rejection of their proposed plans earlier this year.

Greg Kavanagh’s New Generation Homes planned to redevelop Stanford House, a substantial period residence on Foxrock’s Westminster Road. The house was featured on these pages two years ago when it came on the market seeking €4.95 million for the house and a large paddock to the rear totalling 2.9 acres.

The property eventually sold over a year later, in September 2014. Within months, Kavanagh applied to build 10 detached houses on the grounds – eight three- storey homes on the paddock and two two-storey houses on the former vegetable garden. After his plans were rejected, Kavanagh put the multi-million euro Victorian pile up for rent asking €4,000 a month.

Around the corner on the Stillorgan Road, Kingscroft Developments, a subsidiary of Abbey plc, lost its appeal to replace a derelict house named Funchal with nine three-storey family homes.

The decision is just another chapter in a decade- long saga. In 2004 its then owner, sought to build 14 units on the 0.7 acre site, before opting to sell in 2005.

The buyer was the Funchal Partnership, which comprised four individuals including Foxrock local Paul Inglis, who was involved in a number of boom-time property developments in south Dublin, and his wife.

Kingscroft eventually bought the site for €1.75 million in 2014.

Kavanagh’s and Kingscroft’s schemes were refused for, among other reasons, being too low-density.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown council encourages developments near the N11 QBC to have a density of over 50 units a hectare.

With a mere 10 units a hectare, the council described Kavanagh’s proposed development as “inefficient, wasteful and unsustainable use” of zoned land.