An Bord Pleanala’s decision to grant planning permission for 200 new Limerick apartments has been greeted with disappointment by city councillors and residents.

The controversial plans, by the Redemptorist Fathers, have faced continued opposition from South Circular Road locals.

Now, 17 conditions have been laid out by the planning appeals board, which includes the reduction of the number premises from 291 to 208.

Joint developers, the Redemptorists and P Elliott & Co, have yet to comment on the decision, a spokesman for the Redemptorist community informed one newspaper: "We have received a document in relation to the planning application from An Bord Pleanala and we are assessing it".

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The density if the development is still a contentious issue for residents, according to councillor Maria Byrne, who said the council had previously only granted permission for 189 units.

Councillor Jim Long is also outraged that local views appear not to have been taken on board by the planner.

"I actually didn't think it would go ahead; I thought reason would have prevailed. It's outrageous that it took seven and a half months to make a decision on this and never really consider the residents' concerns," Mr Long told the Limerick Leader.

Residents’ main opposition to the development derive from concerns over traffic congestion, noise and the density of the project.

Locals also raised fears over the protection of the St Alphonsus Church, which now forms part of the terms laid out by An Bord Pleanala.

The developers were also orders to abide by Department of the Environment and Heritage’s guidelines by readdressing design standards.

(PR)