Planning permission has been granted to the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) to proceed with the final stage of its redevelopment of Dublin's Croke Park stadium.

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) upheld a decision by Dublin City Council last year to allow the project to go ahead but which was subsequently the subject of an appeal by local residents.

ABP found that with regard to the history of the site and its function as a major sporting stadium and subject to GAA's compliance with various conditions, the development would not seriously affect the amenities of the area nor significantly add to crowd control and crowd safety either inside or outside the stadium and could proceed.

New stands have been completed to the west, east and south of the pitch at Croke Park and this last stage involves the redevelopment of the Nally Stand and Hill 16 spectator areas to the north. These will be demolished and replaced with a standing terrace containing space for over 13,000 spectators, a figure only slightly more than that provided by the two original structures.

The cost of the work is estimated as being about EUR20m.

Work on the project is not likely to begin this year because the GAA does not want it to conflict with the Special Olympics being held in the summer. Details: www.gaa.ie