An Taisce has opposed the construction of a new women's, children's and maternity hospital in Sandyford.

The €160 million Beacon Medical Group (BMG) plan has been lodged with Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council.

However the environmental body's opposition to the proposals - on the grounds that the local infrastructure would not be able to cope under increased pressure - casts doubt on the future of the 120-bed hospital.

It said the proposal was "premature" and permission should not be granted "until a revised Urban Framework Plan for the Sandyford area is completed, establishing guidelines for building heights, and measures are adopted to improve the capacity of existing road and traffic infrastructure".

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Additionally, Owen Keegan, County Manager said last month that council planners will reject planning permission for developments of more than two houses on the basis of inadequate sewerage infrastructure.

If planners reject the plans, BMG will subsequently have to relocate the proposed hospital. A spokeswoman for the healthcare consortium, Pauline Cullen said: "We would be extremely disappointed if a sewerage problem leads to the desperately needed hospital not going ahead.

"We have had numerous meetings with council management regarding our planning application and believe we have addressed overcome the specific concerns with infrastructure in Sandyford."

A decision is expected from the council in the next week.

(VB/JM)