With construction now almost complete, the centre will provide around 51,110sq ft of retail space. Eurospar will be the anchor tenant in the centre, trading from a 1,910sq m retail outlet, and 350 carparking spaces have been designated for supermarket customers. Other allocated units include the Mile Bush public house, a restaurant, a dry cleaners, a cr�che and a 24-hour service station with convenience store.

All of these units are expected to open in the next few months. The developers describe the centre as highly accessible and, with ample car-parking, customers are promised convenience shopping in a comfortable environment.

"The centre is in a very strategic location on the outskirts of Portlaoise and will appeal to a variety of retailers, " says company sales and marketing director Helena Tynan. "The development has in the region of 1,000 homes in its vicinity and locals are enjoying the convenience of having a number of shops and outlets on their doorstep.

"Until now, anyone living in the area had to travel into the centre of Portlaoise town for their basic requirements and, although only minutes away, it meant finding parking and was deemed a small inconvenience.

"The average price of Euro35 per square foot is very competitive for the area and all outlets are highly contemporary in design and are very bright and airy. The road networks in the vicinity are currently being upgraded and, with more homes planned for the area, we believe the centre will prove to be a lucrative opportunity for suitable retailers.

Fairgreen village is set on 50 acres and consists of a residential development as well as the Gandon Court commercial centre. The residential area was completed last year and includes five hundred homes and one hundred apartments and is 95% occupied.

Portlaoise is one of the fastest growing towns in the midlands with 15,000 people now living in the town, an increase of around 40% in three years. One thousand Department of Agriculture civil servants are set to relocate there in the near future.

For further information contact Owenass Developments on 057-864 3567.