The greenbelt is there to check sprawl, protect the countryside, and preserve land for recreation, biodiversity and farming, a Fingal council official said.
Because of its central location, the high footfall in the area, and its proximity to a lot of venues and cultural spaces, it’s become a premier flyering spot.
The council, which owns the mill, is planning a public consultation on what to do with it. One group is already working on a plan to restore it to its original use.
Council officials said they weren’t sure why they’d been refused, but that they’ll press ahead with restoration works using money from council coffers.
“There is nothing to stop a developer building even inside the old stone walls,” says People Before Profit Councillor Tina MacVeigh. “That’s what we’re trying to prevent.”
