The Mayor of Waterford says he disagrees with the decision to refuse planning permission for a 10-storey apartment and leisure complex in Dungarvan.
Waterford developer Michael Ryan had sought to demolish the derelict Bridge House at Davitt's Quay and build 94 apartments for holiday use and a leisure centre with a swimming pool.
He had also sought planning for commerical units and a car park with 142 spaces at the site, which has been vacant since the mid 1990s.
Waterford Council refused planning last October and in his appeal to An Bord Pleanála, Mr Ryan made some revisions.
However, the board has rejected the appeal saying the proposed development would "constitute a visually dominant and discordant feature in the townscape" and would "integrate poorly" with the surrounding environment.
The Mayor of Waterford City and Council John Pratt says he hopes there's a way of getting the development over the line:
"To me, this is very disappointing. Dungarvan is doing very well at the moment with the Greenway and the visitors, and would be in real need of accommodation. During the busy period, there was a time there they didn't have enough accommodation in Dungarvan to facilitate the visitors.
"I'm surprised by the board's decision. I understand that certain buildings, visually they like them to stay a certain way , but surely there's a way of ticking that box. It seemed like it would have been a game changer for Dungarvan."
