A proposal to build the largest residential and shopping complex project outside the city and county of Dublin has been given the go-ahead today by An Bord Pleanala.
Gallico Developments will build a new town centre mall in the heart of Athlone, Co Westmeath, alongside a 160-bedroom hotel and 160 private apartments.
The developers say the complex will create 950 jobs when it is up and running, with 400 jobs in the construction process.
The project will be located on a site between the Prince of Wales Hotel and the old Royal Hoey Hotel on the Leinster side of the River Shannon bridge and will cost €120m to construct.
The shopping centre will have over 60 shops with two main anchor tenants - one of which is believed to be Marks & Spencer.
Gallico Developments director John O'Sullivan says work will start within six weeks and the centre will be open within two years.
