Work is to start shortly on the development of a fashion discount centre in Rathdowney, Co Laois. Details of the manufacturers' outlet centre are to be released at a press conference in Dublin today. Green Property Company is already developing a similar centre in Killarney, Co Kerry.

A British consortium is expected to spend in excess of £10 million on the Co Laois complex, which will have about 100,000 sq ft. Stephen Murray of Jones Lang Wootton says it was expected that the units would be leased by internationally branded clothing manufacturers selling the previous season's stock or over runs at significant discounts from high street prices. Units will range in size from 1,000 to 6,000 sq ft and rents are likely to be based both on the size of building and the turnover. The centre is due to open for business at Easter, 1999.