Sean Dunne: hotel scheme

Developer Sean Dunne has been refused an extension of planning permission for a hotel development he was planning in the grounds of Woodtown Manor in Rathfarnham, south Dublin.

South Dublin County Council said that "substantial works were not carried out" and said the development "could not be completed within a reasonable time". The manager's order said that the "the planning authority is not satisfied" in this regard.

"The applicant has failed to justify the delay in commencing and completing the subject development," the authority said. Planning permission for the development expired in January.

Dunne had received planning to develop a 120-bedroom three-storey hotel that would also have involved changing Woodtown Manor itself, which was built in the 1820s, into six hotel suites. The scheme was given the go-ahead after An Bord Pleanála overruled its inspector and voted by four votes to three to approve the plan.

Last year, Dunne tried to secure zoning for a 100-unit retirement village on 7.6 hectares of the land there.

Woodtown Manor was formerly owned by Garech Browne, a Guinness heir.