A long-running planning controversy that stalled the redevelopment of The Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght, Dublin, has been resolved.
South Dublin County Council has given the go-ahead for the sale of an adjacent car park for development.
Councillors voted to allow the local authority to sell the car park to NAMA for €4.75m.
NAMA will oversee the proposed redevelopment of the entire shopping centre by Noel Smyth's Alburn Group.
The car park had held up the project as a group of developers including Tom McFeely, Laurence O'Mahony, and Liam Carroll held parking rights leading to a lengthy legal battle that has since been resolved.
The Alburn group has applied for planning permission to nearly double the size of the centre to include a multiplex cinema.
It is envisaged that Penneys will be able to open a department store in Tallaght for the first time at the location.
Labour councillor Mick Duff said the sale of the car park was backed overwhelmingly by councillors.
"The Square is 23 years old and it needs a facelift" he said.
A spokesperson for Alburn said that if planning permission is granted construction will take two years, creating 300 construction jobs and 400 retail jobs on completion.
