Plans by Shannon Homes Ltd to build a large shopping centre south of Drogheda at Colpe Cross on the N1 have been given the green light after councillors in Meath agreed to contravene the county development plan.
The material contravention to the 2001 Meath County Development Plan was needed because the existing zoning only allowed for residential development and not a mixed residential/commercial development.
The council's senior planner Bernard Green told councillors the proposal would establish a neighbourhood area, and that Shannon Homes planned to provide proper transport infrastructure, including footpaths, cycle lanes and a bus stop to link to Drogheda town centre.
Mr Green said it would create a development where the idea of living over a shop and working and socialising in one area would become a reality.
It also met an objective of the Drogheda area development plan to develop link roads from the M1 motorway to Colpe Cross.
In a debate before the vote, the majority of the councillors for east Meath said they were in favour of the development because the 2,000 or so residents of Grange Rath have to travel to Drogheda or Swords for a shopping centre.
Cllr Dominic Hannigan (Lab) voted against the material contravention, saying it included a five-storey building and the residents had said they would only accept three storeys.
However, Phil Reilly, managing director of Shannon Homes, said: "We see this as a mini-district for the hinterland of Meath that is easily accessible, and although I expect it to go to An Bord Pleanála, I am confident we will succeed."