An Bord Pleanála has cleared the way for the north Dublin home of the late Taoiseach Charles Haughey to be turned into a 70-bedroom hotel and golf course.
The development by Manor Park Homebuilders was approved by Fingal County Council, but that decision was being appealed by An Taisce.
It has emerged that the senior inspector appointed to the case recommended refusal for traffic reasons, one of the points of appeal submitted by An Taisce.
When informed by the Bord, the developers stated that they had obtained the agreement of the owner of the land opposite and a solution could be found. The developers then submitted a plan for safe access onto the Malahide Road, including a new junction lay-out.
After considering the issue, the Bord decided that the inspector's recommended reason for refusal had been overcome. The Bord felt that the integrity of Abbeville House, a protected structure, was going to be maintained. But it stipulated that around 20, rather than the requested 32, houses could be constructed on the land and a more compact layout was required.
Manor Park is owned by businessman Joe Moran and Dublin-listed company DCC.
An Taisce says it's pleased with several aspects of today's decision on the Abbeville estate.
The organisation's heritage officer, Ian Lumley, welcomed what he called 'more complex and improved conditions attached to the development, to protect the setting of an important house, its landscape and ecology.'
Mr Lumley said there had been a significant improvement on the initial proposals and he's now hoping to see the development of an integrated tourism and leisure scheme.
