A new competition is to be held to develop the derelict baths site in Dún Laoghaire. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council last night voted 14-7 to exclude a proposal by Pierce Group to develop a 60-unit "apart-hotel" on the site in Dún Laoghaire.
Councillors voted on Pierce Group's plans following the elimination of the other contender, Bennet Group, from the competition.
Bennet Group was eliminated when it emerged that part of its plans crossed the boundary of the designated site.
The county management report, presented to councillors at last Monday's meeting, had explained that further detailed examination and clarification were required on Bennet Group's submissions to the competition.
On July 9th, representatives from the technical assessment group met Bennet Group to seek clarification on its plans. The group concluded part of the plans were outside the site boundary.
Following legal advice, lawyers outlined that the object of the competition was to obtain a suitable proposal for the redevelopment of the Dún Laoghaire baths site.
Each party was given a plan of the site surrounded by a red line.
The legal advice read: "It would be unfair to the parties who are already eliminated and unfair to the parties remaining if competition rules were not applied equally to Bennets.
"It is my opinion, therefore, that the council has no other choice but to eliminate the Bennet Group proposal from further consideration."
The reason the Bennet plan had been outside the site plans was because of the way the Ordnance Survey map was enlarged.
Councillors were reluctant to vote on either accepting or rejecting the Pierce Group plan.
Instead, a motion was passed that Pierce Group be excluded from further consideration in the competition based on height, use, scale and provision of parking, thus effectively ending the competition.
Original proposals from Bennet Construction included a 104-bedroom hotel and a thalasso (seawater) spa.
Pierce Group plans would have provided a 19-storey tower with and indoor "street" lined with restaurants and retail facilities.
Mr Ged Pierce has estimated the value of the "planning gain" at €16 million.
A group of around 30 protesters assembled outside the Council Hall, yesterday shouting: "What do we want? Save our baths. When do we want it? Now!"
Councillor Eoin Costello (FG) said a positive outcome was necessary from the meeting and there was a consensus that the new competition be included in the agenda of the September meeting to agree conditions on the next stage of redevelopment of the baths site.