A plan by the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, to build a seven-storey residential and retail development in its grounds has been refused planning permission because a number of the apartment units are "seriously substandard".

Another reason given by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council was that the development, which was opposed by local residents, businesses and An Taisce, would be "visually incongruous" when viewed from Queen's Road, East Pier, Haigh Terrace and Marine Road. The council also said that the height, scale and design of the proposed scheme would affect the Royal Marine Hotel, a protected structure and a "major landmark building".

Developer William Neville and Sons was looking to build two blocks of 71 apartments and eight retail units - one of the blocks would have been six storeys with a set back penthouse level over a double basement.

An outcry against the proposed development by owners of apartments in the adjacent Pavilion II on Marine Road didn't go unheard. The council decided that overshadowing, overlooking and "severe visual intrusion and visual enclosure" would affect amenities and depreciate the value of property in Pavilion II.

The council also said that a significant proportion of units were single aspect in design with poor access to light and a number were considered "seriously substandard" in terms of internal floor area, layout and the dimensions of rooms.

In February last year An Bord Pleanála approved a plan by William Neville and Sons to extend and refurbish the hotel despite objections from An Taisce. This increased the height of the hotel to seven storeys and the number of bedrooms from 108 to 237, added two restaurants, four function rooms, three ground level retail units and a leisure centre. Although an Taisce warned that the proposed development would detract from the visual prominence of the protected structure, the board ruled the development would not adversely affect the historic character, appearance and integrity of the hotel.