An application for planning permission for a new women's, children's and maternity hospital in Sandyford has been refused by Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council.

The Beacon Medical Group (BMG) proposal was denied on the grounds that the area had insufficient infrastructure and inadequate foul drainage.

An Taisce had previously opposed the construction of the €160 million project. It said the proposal was "premature" and permission should not be granted "until a revised Urban Framework Plan for the Sandyford area has been completed, establishing guidelines for building heights, and measures are adopted to improve the capacity of existing road and traffic infrastructure".

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A spokeswoman for BMG, Pauline Cullen said the healthcare consortium was very disappointed that the 120-bed hospital had been turned down. She said: "We were hopeful that all concerns had been addressed and that a positive outcome would be forthcoming.

"However, we are committed to working with Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council to ensure this much-needed facility goes ahead."

The Beacon group has not ruled out a new location but intends to meet planners in a bid to make the co-location plan work.

(VB)