Dublin City councillors have voted to remove "flexibility" in regard to building height and density from the draft of the new development plan.

Councillors are working on the 2016-2022 plan, which will set a planning blueprint to which construction schemes will have to comply.

A number of submissions urging a loosening of the current height restrictions were received from State bodies including the National Transport Authority, the National Asset Management Agency and the HSE.

The HSE's plan for a Children's Hospital at the Mater site was turned down by An Bord Pleanála because its height and mass did not comply with the city's development plan.  

In his report to councillors council chief executive Owen Keegan said the development plan should allow "flexibility" in terms of density and height in "highly accessible parts of the city", given planned improvements in public transport.

However a motion by Green Party Cllr Ciaran Cuffe, amended by Independent Cllr Mannix Flynn to remove all reference to flexibilty in the draft plan, was passed by councillors.

Under the current development plan, buildings over 16 residential stories are only allowed in four areas: The Docklands, George's Quay and in the vicinity of Connolly and Heuston rail stations.

Outside of the city centre buildings of up to 16 residential stories are allowed, subject to local area plans, in nine locations: The Digital Hub, Phibsborough, Grangegorman, North Fringe, Clonshaugh Industrial Estate, Ballymun, Pelletstown, Park West / Cherry Orchard and the Naas Road.

The current limits in the inner city and at rail hubs are six residential stories, while in the outer city it is four stories.

Councillors have made a total of 394 motions on the draft plan which have to be dealt with by Thursday.

The draft plan will then go out to public consultation from 27 July.

City councillors also voted to remove references for an eastern bypass in Dublin from new draft development plans. 

An eastern bypass to link the Dublin Port tunnel to the Southern M50 is planned by the National Transport Authority but not until at least 2030.