An Bord Pleanala

An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead to developer Michael O'Flynn for the construction of 608 homes at Glanmire, County Cork.

The government is seeking to increase membership of An Bord Pleanála to cope with a rising demand for planning permissions after new fast-track legislation designed to tackle the housing crisis was introduced last year.

Residents had already objected to the prospect of a 500-home development but now Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan has intervened to object to the fast-tracked scheme on the capital’s northside, earmarked for land by St Paul’s College in Raheny.

An Bord Pleanála has determined the first application decided under the new fast-track regime for major housing and student accommodation schemes.