The national planning body has given the go-ahead for a major housing development in Dingle.

Social Housing Company was granted planning permission following an appeal, to build 72 residential units on a site at The Grove, Dingle.

The 2.7-hectare site is adjacent to Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne and Árd na Gréine housing estate.

The company originally sought permission to build 69 residential units at the 2.76-hectare greenfield site, adjacent to Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne and Árd na Gréine housing estate.

Following a request for further information, assisted living units included in that application were replaced with houses, increasing the overall figure to 72 residential units.

Social Housing Company was previously refused planning to build 91 residential units on that site in Dingle, for three reasons.

These were the excessive scale and density of the development, poor quality public realm and private amenity spaces, and non-compliance with childcare guidelines.

Kerry County Council decided that the new proposal, for 72 residential units, was acceptable and granted permission subject to 29 conditions, but this was again appealed to the national planning body.

Part of that appeal, was the claim that this new development had the same core problems as the larger one which was refused.

The appeal claimed these reasons included the peripheral location, lack of pedestrian and cycle access, and traffic hazards.

An Coimisiún Pleanála’s inspector however wrote that the previous application was not refused for these reasons.

The inspector wrote this application is for the development of a residentially zoned site within the built-up footprint of the town and is acceptable in principle.

The company claimed in its response to the appeal, that it is unfortunate and unfair that one person can stand in the way of such a positive proposal, while Kerry County Council wrote that its own decision to grant permission was the correct one.

Planning was granted subject to 26 conditions.

The development will include 33 two-bed houses, 35 three-bed houses, and 4 four-bed houses.