Cllrs agree a 'road map' for progressing Kildare Village-style retail outlet centre

Proposals for a “Kildare Village” type retail outlet centre for Kells, with the prospect of attracting up to two million visitors to the town each year, inched forward today when councillors agreed a “road map” for getting the project off the ground.

The plan – being suggested by the owners of the Backlands and a company involved in developing this kind of retail outlet parks across Europe – is being supported by local councillors Sean Drew, Paul McCabe, Sarah Reilly and Eugene Cassidy.

Last Friday, the councillors attempted to get the proposal into the draft Meath county development plan for the next six years.

However, a compromise plan was agreed today between the councillors and the council executive in which the council , together with the promoter of the project, will undertake a detailed evidence-based assessment for a retail outlet centre for the town on a zoned site within or immediately adjacent to the town centre that can create commercial connections with the established town centre having regard to the provisions of the Retail Planning Guidelines 2012 and all national and regional guidelines.

The outcome of the assessments will be incorporated in the draft Kells Local Area Plan or a variation of the county development plan.

Fianna Fail Cllr Sean Drew said tonight (Wed) that the councillors were glad that they and council officials had been able to come to an agreed wording which would facilitate the moving forward of the idea. He said that the councillors who backed the idea wanted to ensure that no obstacles would be put in the way of the project at this early stage.