Plans for a massive regeneration scheme in Ballymun, north Dublin, have been laid out following several years of wrangling between the developer and council officials.

Treasury Holdings unveiled its plans for the town centre after a six-year protracted pre-planning process.

The scheme, named Spring Cross, will stretch over a 14.5 acre site.

Around 650,000 square feet will be designated for retail units, in addition to 100,000 square feet of leisure space and over 300,000 square feet of office premises.

The development will offer an 11-screen cinema, bowling alley, youth drop-in centre and a family entertainment complex.

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Provisions for a 2,185 space car park have also be been made.

Three hundred and sixty seven apartments will be built on the site, ranging from one, two and three-bedroom abodes.

Dublin City Council received the planning application last week. Treasury Holdings said it expects the scheme to be complete by 2013.

Ikea is also set to open a large store next to the site next year.

Ballymun - one of Dublin's most socially deprived areas - was once best known for its high-rise flats, which provided the backdrop to Irish movie The Commitments. These 'Ballymun flats' have since been demolished.

Economically, Ballymun has a wide catchment area of more affluent districts such as Malahide and Glasnevin. For six years regeneration work in the town swung in the balance.

The developer was unable to agree on the amount Dublin City Council was paid for its interest in the site.

The dispute reportedly ended when Treasury agreed to pay the council around €60m (£49m) for the freehold on the shopping centre site and an adjacent site.

The proposed new Town Centre has been described as the 'jewel in the crown' of the Ballymun regeneration programme.

Treasury Holdings has also recently unveiled its plans for an €800m scheme in Clonburris, West Dublin.

(PR/JM)