Up to 500 jobs could be created after An Bord Pleanála granted permission for a €50 million development at the Kildare Village Outlet.

Kildare County Council approved the project which will extend the centre by 8,000 square metres in November

That decision was appealed to ABP which held an oral hearing in April. But it has now approved the scheme which will create 120 construction jobs and 380 permanent positions.

There are 629 people currently employed in the existing phase one.

The Village is seen as a huge contribution to the local economy. It is claimed that 80% of the visitors to Kildare Village come from outside county Kildare and 15% are tourists.

Tourism marketing by the Chic Outlet Shopping group, of which the Village is part, reached in excess of 900 million people worldwide in 2012.

Speaking to KFM, Kildare-South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon says the announcement is a significant.