Shannon Homes confirmed yesterday a planning application for the first phase of a €70 million development in Slane village will be lodged with Meath County Council by the end of this year.
Phil Reilly, managing director of the company, confirmed yesterday that it would relate to the infrastructure and amenity aspects of the development.
The completion of the entire scheme would require it being incorporated into the next village plan for Slane, he said. The plans relate to a 35-acre land holding to the eastern side of the N2, the main Dublin to Derry road, situated on Slane's northern end.
A commercial and retail centre incorporating a medical centre, pharmacy and other retail units as well as a new housing scheme make up the plan.
Mr Reilly said he has drawn the plans up in conjunction with the community in Slane. Asked if this was to avoid objections being made by the public he said, "the days of a developer going in and telling the community what he was doing are in the past.
"I am not suggesting we will please all of the people all of the time but there is genuine good will out there," he added.
The plan requires the relocation of the GAA pitch and Mr Reilly said a new state-of-the-art flood-lit pitch and clubhouse would be built as well as a community centre. The scheme also includes a residential element but that will be subject to strict criteria in the recently adopted Meath county development plan.
It capped the number of new homes that could be built and wants development to be focused along the corridor of the new rail service between Dublin and south Meath.
Some 15 acres of the Shannon Homes lands in Slane are already zoned for employment use and it is understood that the village's proximity to Dublin is already producing interest from a number of smaller companies.
It has been estimated that up to 300 jobs could be provided in the next five years if permission is granted.