An Bord Pleanal turned down permission for a commercial and residential development in the centre of Ahtlone today.
The centre boasted 31 retail units, 211 apartments and 835 car-parking spaces but to build it would have resulted in the demoliton of the famous Royal Hoey hotel in the centre of the town.
Athlone town council provided planning permission for the development but local dentist Michael J. McGrath was the sole objector.
An Bord Pleanala ruled the centre would "constitute an inappropriate approach to the necessary redevelopment of this important town centre site; would seriously injure the amenities of the town; and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."
Athlone town Mayor, Mr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, described it as "a major setback for Athlone."