Mansfield says Citywest decision will hit economy

The Irish economy will lose out on jobs and revenue because of An Bord Pleanála's decision to reject property tycoon Jim Mansfield's plans for a convention centre in west Dublin.

In a lengthy statement issued today Mr Mansfield said there was "no logic or common sense" to the decision.

Mr Mansfield will now have to demolish his partly built convention centre at his Citywest Hotel complex near Saggart after An Bord Pleanála's decision to yet again refuse permission for the €50 million scheme.

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) had no statement to make last night, but one senior official source said the appeals board was the "final arbiter" in planning matters, and that it was now "inevitable" that an enforcement notice would be issued to have the unauthorised structure removed.

In a statement, Citywest Hotel said the decision is a "major blow to the area and to Ireland generally".

Mr Mansfield said: "There is no logic or common sense to this decision. The Bord appears to have not addressed the facts of our submission. The justification for this decision in planning terms is difficult to understand. There is no site in Ireland better serviced than Citywest."

He said the complex already caters for up to 500 tourists a day "and this could easily be increased by the proposed convention/exhibition centre.

"Significant employment and revenue to the national and local economy will now be lost," he added.

Mr Mansfield's company, HSS Ltd, had sought permission to retain and complete the 6,000-seat convention centre at his Citywest Hotel and Leisure Resort complex, which already has convention facilities for 4,000 people.

He pointed out today that the net increase was 2,000 extra seats with a need for an extra 677 car parking spaces.

A decision last November by SDCC to approve the plan - after its members had rezoned the site for convention-centre use - was appealed by An Taisce and a company controlled by businessman Harry Crosbie.

Mr Crosbie owns the Point in Dublin's Docklands and is planning to double its capacity. He is also a partner with Treasury Holdings and CIÉ as the preferred bidder for the development of a national conference centre at Spencer Dock.

In its decision to refuse permission for the Citywest scheme, An Bord Pleanála said such a major facility "should be located in a core commercial area, such as city centre or major town centre, in order to avail of a range of public transport options".

But Citwest Hotel contended today that a city-centre location would be a bad idea "given the current congestion in the city centre and the forecasted growth in traffic numbers".

The statement added that it would "vigorously pursue" judicial review proceedings already under way in relation to the board's original decision to turn down the convention and exhibition centre.