The higher planning authority has overturned Westmeath County Council's refusal for a major housing development in Mullingar.
Shaston Construction Ltd had applied to the council for the construction of 71 homes on the Ardmore Road in the town.
The application contained plans for 30 apartments in a 2 storey block and 41 two storey houses, along with the formation of a new vehicular access, communal bin stores and bicycle spaces.
Westmeath County Council initially refused the permission for the housing over concerns it would be a substandard development and that it lacked the necessary documentation to show that it would not impact local biodiversity.
The company appealed this decision to An Bord Pleanála in June of 2023 with the higher planning authority overturning the council's decision this week.
The application can now go ahead with 22 conditions attached.
These include a ruling that adequate EV charging points be provided in the planned parking and that work only be undertaken on site between specific hours each day
