A shopping centre near Kenmare, Co Kerry, has been granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála despite objections from residents and a local school.
The board's inspector advised against granting permission, saying the development, with a large car park, was not suitable on the approaches to a heritage town. However, the board ruled the eight retail units with supermarket, cafe and office on Railway Road would be acceptable.
The application by Murphy's Stores (Kenmare) Ltd is to replace the existing SuperValu on Main Street.
St Francis's boys' school, situated across the road from the proposed development, cited the narrowness of the road and disturbance to the school from traffic noise. It said a proposed bypass was not in place to facilitate such a development.
It claimed neither the traffic impact assessment nor the retail impact assessment mentioned the school.
Planning inspector Maireád Kenny felt the retail element could be accommodated in the town centre.
She also expressed reservations about the "presentation of the development at the edge of a heritage town of considerable importance to the tourist market in Kerry".
In deciding not to accept its own inspector's recommendation, An Bord Pleanála said it did not agree the development contravened the development plan or adversely affected the viability of Kenmare town centre. It attached a number of conditions, including a €75,000 payment to cover public infrastructure and facilities.