FINAL REFUSAL FOR CONTROVERSIAL CITY APARTMENT BID

Date Published: 16-Nov-2007

A controversial bid to build two multi-storey apartment blocks beside a city hotel on the Dublin Road has been binned by An Bord Pleanala. Foxfield Inns Ltd of Flannery's Hotel had asked the Bord to overturn a planning refusal from Galway city council to build the 3 and 4 storey apartment blocks at Ballybane Mor. Galway city planners turned down Foxfield Inns Ltd's plans to build 29 two-bedroom apartments in two blocks at Belmont in Ballybane Mor last April. The application had local residents up in arms and Cllr Terry Flaherty even lodged an objection on their behalf. Undeterred, the owners appealed the refusal to An Bord Pleanala in the hope that they would overturn the ruling. But inspectors said the proposed development would be dominated by 44 car parking spaces to the detriment of future residents.