Planning permission for a major retail, commercial and residential development in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, has been overturned by An Bord Pleanála.
The proposal by a Tipperary-based developer, Clancy Construction, would have extended the town centre by utilising a 40-acre disused site formerly occupied by the Glanbia food company.
Supporters of the multi-million euro project, including the local urban district council, claimed it would revitalise the town centre.
However, the grocers' body, RGDATA, as well as An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment, appealed the council's decision to grant planning permission for the project to An Bord Pleanála.
RGDATA claimed the project, which included plans for a shopping centre, apartments, houses, a pub and multi-screen cinema, was not properly integrated with the existing town centre and retailers there would suffer. In its decision, An Bord Pleanála said the project failed to meet the key principles of the town's development plan.
"The proposed development, by reason of its failure to establish an urban street system and the low-rise suburban-type design fronting the square, would be alien and out of character with the adjacent Grattan Square and linear street pattern and would fail to integrate with the existing form and built structure of the town centre," it said.
Mr Billy Clancy, the managing director of Clancy Construction, said he would take professional advice before deciding whether to submit a revised planning proposal. It had taken two years to get the project to this stage "and if it's going to take another two, we won't proceed with it". An Bord Pleanála said it would make no comment beyond those contained in its decision.
