CLARE County Council yesterday turned down a controversial plan for a Pounds 5 million holiday home development in an area in Kilkee currently zoned as open space.
For the 46-home development to proceed, 24 of the 32 members of the council needed to vote to contravene the county development plan and change the designation of the site.
The motion failed by five votes after 19 of the councillors supported the development.
The chairman of the Kilkee planning review group, Dr Tom Nolan, who has vigorously opposed the development, said: "We applaud the councillors who respected the democratic wishes of the majority of Kilkee people, who feel so passionately about this issue, by rejecting this application.
The Limerick-based company, Robinbury Ltd, which submitted the planning application, may appeal to An Bord Pleanala.
Dr Nolan said: "We hope they appeal so we can further expose the needlessness of such developments in scenic areas on a wider, more public arena."