An Bord Pléanala has granted permission for the demolition of Apollo House in Dublin city centre.

The Tara Street building made national headlines late last year when it was occupied by homeless campaigners for use as temporary accommodation.

The Home Sweet Home group - which included prominent public figures such as Glen Hansard and Jim Sheridan - continued to occupy the building over the Christmas and New Year period, before leaving in January after talks with the Government.

An initial decision to replace the building - which was built in 1969 - with a 11-storey office building was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by Corn Exchange Management Limited and Balark Investments Limited.

However, the planning authority has now given the project the green light with some revised conditions.

Explaining their decision, planning officials say it is believed that the proposed development "would integrate satisfactorily with the surrounding existing development [and] with the established character of the sensitive historic city centre."

Permission for the demolition had been sought by Mazars, receivers of Cuprum Properties Limited appointed by NAMA.

The planned redevelopment in the area - which The Irish Times reports will cost €50 million - will also see the demolition of Hawkins House, which has been described as one of Dublin's ugliest buildings.

Permission for the demolition of that building - which previously housed the Department of Health - has been granted to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The new office complex is set to include space for restaurants and shops, as well as a new civic space.