Green light for first phase of huge new Navan retail development

A much-needed employment boost is on the cards for Navan with the start of work on a series of new retail developments in the south-west of the town. Outline planning permission has also been granted for the first phase of the new €500m town centre development between the Trim Road and Dan Shaw Road to Navan Co-Ownership, a joint venture between well-known Navan developers Duignan & McCarthy and Davy Property Holdings. The proposals for this site include a completely new shopping quarter while provision is also being made for the new central railway station and park and ride facilities for the town which will serve the new passenger rail line to Dublin. The development will be built on a phased basis over 10 years and is estimated to have the potential to create 4,000 to 5,000 jobs when fully operational. The first phase will consist of 250,000 square feet of retail space. It is believed that a new cinema development will be one of the first outlets to be built in this development and negotiations with two other possible anchor tenants are also at an advanced stage. Meanwhile, work on a new Lidl supermarket on the Trim Road in Navan has begun in recent weeks with the store expected to open in February. Work on a discount designer outlet on an adjacent site at the former Navan Greyhound Track is expected to begin in the middle of next year. The discount designer outlet proposal is for a 76,000 square foot outlet on the site of the old dog track. The developers of the outlet are believed to be in negotiations with a number of big designer names who could occupy the units, selling big name fashion brands cheaper than on the high street. The development would consist of eight units with ground level car parking.