The bid by Menolly Homes and Manor Park Homes to secure permission - through the normal planning channels - for a 920-home residential scheme at Hansfield in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 has failed.

The so-called "fast-track" SDZ (Strategic Development Zone) process for Hansfield was taking too long to be approved by An Bord Pleanála, so Menolly tried the conventional planning route for the 76-acre site.

However, Menolly and Manor Park have been refused planning permission by Fingal County Council on the grounds that the scheme would be premature pending a decision on the draft planning scheme for the area by An Bord Pleanála.

As well as 920 detached mews houses, semi-detached houses and apartments, Menolly is looking to build nine shops, a medical centre, two crèches and a pub/restaurant. The Castaheany/Hansfield SDZ in south-west Blanchardstown comprises 82 hectares of mostly flat agricultural land and is mainly owned by Manor Park Homes, Menolly Homes and Castlethorn Developments. It is expected to provide 2,500 residential units.

Last year the planning board warned Fingal County Council it would not approve the Hansfield SDZ - which runs from Clonsilla to Co Meath - unless the area was served by rail with a new station between Clonsilla and Dunboyne, and it criticized the SDZ for failing to ensure the "timely delivery" of bus transport, roads, schools, community facilities and major open spaces.

The Government introduced the concept of SDZs in 2001 as a way of speeding up the turn-around time of residential developments - allowing them to proceed without appeal once they complied with the "area action plans".

However, the three designated SDZ's have been mired in controversy and delay with only one - Adamstown in Lucan (the largest at 500 acres) - making any progress. Its first planning application for 448 houses was approved by South Dublin County Council recently.

Another SDZ - a 94-acre tranche in Clonmagadden Valley in Navan, Co Meath has been earmarked for 1,400 houses.