New Navan cinema project given green light

Navan Town Council has granted planning permission for a giant 10-screen 1,900-seat cinema at a local retail park, but an objector has indicated that he will appeal against the decision. Navan Town Council granted approval this week for the €6m development by Flix Cinemas at units 11-13 at the Navan Retail Park, Athboy Road, which will feature a striking 15m glazed entrance with 10 3D screens and seating for 1,918 patrons. Some 20 conditions were attached to the grant of permission, including development contribution fees totalling €185,112. However, Mr Duignan, whose company, Lexeme Retail Property, has proposals of its own for a cinema complex on the Trim Road, said he would be appealing the decision and accused the town council of "changing its mind, depending on the week". He said that his company had lands properly zoned on the Trim Road and a deal signed with a cinema chain. He said he had been encouraged to pursue the development within the town boundary, but now the council was chopping and changing its mind. However, news that the venture by Flix Cinemas at the retail park had been granted the green light was been warmly welcomed by local councillor Shane Cassells who heralded it as a "much-needed shot in the arm for the local economy". Cllr Cassells said the "green light for the development was a positive statement for growth in the retail park and that its location off the M3 spur road would see it attract people from a wide radius". He welcomed the fact that the cinema would create over 60 jobs when opened and would result in a boost for the local construction sector with an estimated spend of €3m on that part of the development alone. "The Navan Retail Park is the perfect site with great road access off the M3 and nearly 1,000 car parking spaces," said the Navan Fianna Fail councillor. "These are the kind of high-quality leisure facilities that we need in the heart of Meath and I know that movie fans across the county will be excited that it has got the go ahead from our planning department." According to Darren Corcoran, managing direction of Flix Cinema and Leisure, the new cinema could now be open as early as next summer and would create 13 full-time and 60 part-time jobs across the year, with seasonal peak staff rising to 20 full-time and 90 part-time staff at periods such as the summer and Christmas. There will be 3D facilities throughout the complex and the largest screen would have 378 seats, making it the largest movie exhibition facility outside of Dublin.