Final green light for 36-apartment block near Galway city’s Crown Square development
A three-storey apartment block next to the Crown Square development in Galway city has been given final approval following an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
In December 2025, Galway City Council approved plans for 36 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on lands at the Glasshouse Commercial Site on the Monivea Road.
The application was submitted to the local authority by Green Way Estates (Leitrim) Limited.
Located approximately 2.5km from the city centre, the development will comprise of 16 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom apartments. Plans also include a communal laundry room, plant room, rooftop garden and courtyard garden.
The development will provide 25 car parking spaces, along with 60 bicycle parking spaces and bicycle storage facilities.
Glasshouse Commercial Site will see a three story apartment block with unique interior features. © !!!
Following the council’s approval, An Coimisiún Pleanála received an appeal relating to two planning conditions which the applicant argued were unnecessary.
The appeal was submitted by planning consultancy MKO on behalf of Green Way Estates (Leitrim) Limited.
One condition required the submission of revised drawings omitting three apartments on each floor, reducing the total number of units from 36 to 27.
The council suggested replacing the omitted apartments with additional landscaping and an open-air courtyard.
However, MKO argued that the proposed 36 apartments were in line with current planning policy and principles of sustainable development.
The second condition required larger kitchen windows facing the inner courtyard, while ensuring there was “no direct overlooking between opposing kitchen windows”.
In the appeal, MKO said the windows had been “adequately designed and sized judiciously”. The consultancy also argued that the design had been developed with “amenity, ventilation and privacy” in mind and that the windows were not intended to maximise sunlight.
An Coimisiún Pleanála granted planning permission on May 27, subject to 22 conditions. The two conditions challenged by MKO were removed.
The apartment block will join a number of other housing developments currently under construction in the area. The Crown Square development, located across the road, will provide almost 300 residential units when completed along with office units and retail spaces.
Crown Square will also be the location of Galway City Council’s new office headquarters. A contractor for the interior fit-out was recently appointed and the building is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.