Westmeath County Council had earlier approved revised proposals for the scheme in the Blackhall area of the town after the planning board had rejected the developer's original scheme, in part because of concerns over the area's historic and archaeological significance.

The biggest retail development in the midlands will comprise 58 shop units including three anchor stores, 80 apartments and offices, a cinema, a museum, a fitness centre, a medical centre, restaurants, coffee shops and almost 1,500 car parking spaces.

Earlier concerns about the 11-acre site's historic and archaeological importance proved unfounded when extensive excavation work carried out in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government uncovered nothing of major significance.

The IMC cinema group and Shannon Regional Fisheries Board are two of eight parties appealing against the granting of planning permission. IMC is opposing the proposed 1,000-seat cinema, claiming it "fails to recognise the existence of the cinema at Lakepoint" and would result in an oversupply of cinema seats in the catchment area, "thereby undermining the operational stability of the Lakepoint Centre and possibly diverting trade from Longford, Tullamore, and Athlone".

Shannon Regional Fisheries Board has asked that a 10-metre buffer zone be established either side of the River Brosna to protect the brown trout population.

Rickaton Construction Ltd is a subsidiary of the Bennett group. The directors include Christopher Bennett, John Bennett, Eugene Moore and Michael Piggott.

Mr Moore had anticipated renewed objections to the development but has expressed confidence that these can be overcome and that work can begin early next year on the two-and-ahalf year long construction project.

"We truly believe that the town needs this development to allow the midlands to compete properly, and that this will revitalise the centre and regenerate this central area of the town, " he says.