A proposed co-living development in Dun Laoghaire in Dublin has been given the green light.
The project by Bartra Capital Property Group has received planning permission for the planned development at Eblana Avenue.
However, the permission has only been granted on the condition that all bedrooms will be provided with "functional kitchens to include cooking hobs."
It comes after a similar planned development in Tallaght was recently refused permission.
The Dun Laoghaire site is set to contain 208 single occupancy bed spaces, as well as communal kitchen, dining, living and library spaces on each floor.
There will also be amenity spaces on the ground floor, such as a lounge & games room and gym space.
Permission was granted with more than twenty conditions, including the kitchen requirement and that the living spaces on each floor be enlarged.
However, the planning board said it believes the development "would provide an acceptable form of residential amenity for future occupants".
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Bartra CEO Mike Flannery said they'll now proceed with the development and implement all conditions.
He said: “This is a pragmatic decision based on Ireland’s need to embrace new tenure types. The Bord recognise that there is a place for co-living within the Irish housing market and we look forward to delivering this new and innovative form of accommodation.
"Ireland needs new models of housing to cater for changing demographics, living habits and employment patterns. Co-living is one such response to these changes."
He suggested that the project has "worked well in other cities including London, New York and Vienna".
Local TD Richard Boyd Barrett voiced his opposition to the decision.
The People Before Profit TD said: "It's a shocking, disgraceful decision by An Bord Pleanala.
"This is just a money-spinner to make money for developers.
"It will do absolutely nothing to address the real housing needs for affordable and decent quality accommodation."
He dismissed the planning condition for each room to have a kitchen space, adding: "These are box-rooms with fold-out beds."
Co-living proposals have proven controversial in recent months.
Critics here have warned co-living offers a low standard of living, and also warned that it is often not a cheaper alternative to traditional rental properties.
The Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy recently likened co-living to staying in a "very trendy" boutique hotel, but later admitted his analogy was "not a good one".
However, he has continued to defend the prospect of such developments - arguing that they would mainly be aimed at recent graduates entering the workforce for the first time.
