Designer outlet plan revealed as Lidl gets go-ahead in Navan

A much-needed employment boost for Navan is on the cards with proposals for a discount designer outlet on the Trim Road, which the developers say will attract shoppers from a wide hinterland, including Dublin city. The proposal for the 76,000 square foot outlet on the site of the old Navan Greyhound Track, which is proposed by Davy Property Holdings, is one of a series of proposed developments in the Trim Road area, which will include a new Lidl supermarket and a massive €500m town centre development between the Dan Shaw Road and Trim Road. Meath County Council has started the process of varying the county development plan to pave the way for the designer outlet on a site at the old greyhound track. The county council has advertised its intention to vary the plan and has sought submissions, which must be made before 25th May. A spokesperson for the developers of the discount designer outlet said they were in negotiation with a number of big designer names who would occupy the units, selling big name fashion brands much cheaper than on the high street. The development would consist of eight units with ground level car parking. The spokesperson said the outlet was in line with the urban framework plan for that area and was part of an agreed strategy with the council. 'We would like to get on site as quickly as we can,' he said. The developers say they hope that the development would come onstream within the next 18 months. Meanwhile, the discount supermarket chain, Lidl, has been granted planning permission for a store on a site adjacent to the proped designer outlet and a spokesperson said he expected this to be up and running within the next 12 to 18 months. Planning permission has also been sought for the first phase of the new €500m town centre development between the Trim and Dan Shaw roads by 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 €500m 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. Cllr Tommy Reilly welcomed the proposed new developments which, he said, would create many new jobs for the town. He said that the new designer park would attract a lot of shoppers to the town and bring a lot more business to Navan. The proposed new developments on the Trim Road come just weeks after Marks & Spencer gave a vote of confidence to the town by opening its new store at Navan Shopping Centre. The 30,000 sq ft store is the 19th Marks & Spencer in the Republic of Ireland and has created 100 jobs in Navan.