Planning hearing resumes

A proposed development of 253 apartments on the grounds of St Helen's House in Booterstown, in south county Dublin, may interfere with a ground water supply to the internationally renowned Booterstown nature reserve, a planning appeals hearing has been told. An Bord Pleanala has reopened the hearing, which was first held last July, following illness on the part of the then inspector. Yesterday a new inspector, Mr Michael Walsh, told the hearing that evidence submitted to the first hearing could be considered to be still on the record.