Developer Bryan Cullen's plans for an up-market development in Sandymount village have been rejected by An Bord Pleanála.

Cullen was looking to build 40 apartments and four townhouses on the site which was once occupied by Cerebral Palsy Ireland and a garden centre.

The 0.37-hectare site has frontage onto Sandymount Avenue and is close to the Dart station.

Dublin City Council granted permission but this decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by individual residents in the area and a residents' committee.

The planning board has now overturned the council's decision.

In the absence of a masterplan for the site, the development was "premature", according to the planning board's inspector.

Although the amount of open public space in Cullen's design meets council standards, the inspector described the layout of public space as poor, having "the appearance of being almost leftover after the design was produced".

The extensive use of bamboo in the landscape design was also criticised.

It "detracts from the visual character of the area", the inspector said.

Last year the developer was refused permission for another scheme in Sandymount at Gilford Road.

He was looking to build 57 apartments on lands he purchased from the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Africa for over €16 million.