Developer Johnny Ronan’s high-rise residential tower in Dublin’s docklands has been refused planning permission.

An Bórd Pleanála (ABP) said it was unable to grant permission after the High Court ruled that height restrictions must be upheld in the area.

That came after Dublin City Council asked the court to prevent the board from holding an oral hearing instead of rejecting it outright.

The council said the plan should be rejected on a number of grounds – noting that it would breach height restrictions, would represent an overdevelopment of the area, and could block sunlight in the area.

Judge Richard Humphreys found in favour of DCC and An Taisce on the issue and as a result, ABP said it had no jurisdiction to grant permission.

The Ronan Group's Waterfront South Central Docklands Tower.

In a statement this afternoon, the Ronan Group said it was “deeply disappointed” with the decision.

It said the DCC legal action sought to uphold the height limits in the area at the expense of Government housing policy.

“Unfortunately, DCC’s continued efforts to frustrate Government policy are impeding much-needed development in this area of Dublin,” it said.

“The current Strategic Development Zone for the area is nearly ten years old and is entirely incompatible with what is now required for the area.

“Our ambition for Waterfront South Central is to create a landmark new development for Dublin that sets the standard for responsible and integrated development as the greenest city quarter in Ireland.

“At a time of much-needed housing, Waterfront South Central would deliver more than 1,000 apartments, including 100 social housing units.”

The developer said it would now “review this decision carefully” and consider its options.