Two major elements of a €100 million "eco-tourism" scheme for Lough Key Forest Park in Co Roscommon have been refused by An Bord Pleanála as they would be "contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
The board turned down plans by the Canadian Newfound Consortium for a three-storey hotel with 100 bedrooms incorporating leisure, spa and conference facilities and parking for 150 cars, and 27 two-storey holiday cottages with 33 car parking spaces.
It also refused permission for 78 two-storey holiday cottages, a tennis court, children's play area and parking for 104 cars.
A decision on the third element of the scheme, comprising a further 199 holiday cottages, a golf course, clubhouse and 138 parking spaces, is awaited.
Roscommon County Council's decision to approve all three elements of the scheme was appealed by the heritage section of the Department of the Environment, An Taisce and Clean Ltd, a company set up by local environmentalists to oppose the plans.
Upholding their appeals, An Bord Pleanála noted that the strategy outlined in a 2002 study of Lough Key sought to minimise negative environmental impacts by ensuring that new development would be encouraged to locate in nearby Boyle or Cootehall.
The board also noted the designation of Lough Key as a landscape conservation area where development should be restricted to recreational and leisure uses, and said this objective would be contravened by "residential-type development".
It said the proposed development was too close to Lough Key, and would "seriously injure the visual amenities" of the lake. It could also damage the habitat of three protected species - the lesser horseshoe bat, pine marten and red squirrel.
Welcoming the board's decision as a "landmark judgment", An Taisce said the proposed development "should never have been granted planning in the first place as it runs contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area and EU directives".
"Our hope is that this ruling will at last put to rest any future inappropriate plans to develop Lough Key and maintain it as a public recreational amenity and wildlife area."
A spokesman for An Taisce said it hoped that Coillte Teoranta - the State forestry company which owns the most significant part of the lakeshore and woodlands - would note the judgment.
