The long running planning saga to redevelop the former Chester Beatty library site at 20 Shrewsbury Road continues.

O'Malley Homes and Developments has lost its appeal to An Bord Pleanála to demolish the remaining building on the site and build a four-storey over basement building with seven apartments.

The former Chester Beatty library building has already been demolished but there is a remaining building on the site which was used as caretakers accommodation and subsequently as offices.

The developer was looking to build three duplex apartments on the ground and first floor, two apartments on the second floor and one apartment with four bedrooms on the top floor. There would also have been basement parking for 19 cars.

A third party appeal was also submitted by Barbara Mackenzie of 22 Shrewsbury Road who said the "principle of an apartment block" should be opposed. "A more appropriate development would be of large single family dwelling(s)."

An Bord Pleanála ruled that the the proposed apartment block would "by reason of its mass, height and scale, be out of keeping with the established pattern of development in the vicinity".

It also decided that it would be "unduly visually dominant and overbearing and would injure the residential amenities of the adjoining properties".