Some 450 new jobs are to be created at a shopping centre in Dublin, as Liffey Valley prepares for a €26m expansion.

It will see a new Penneys store, six new restaurants, an upgrade to the cinema and new civic space.

The new 10,500 square metre building will see the floor area of the centre increase by more than 16%. Planning permission for the development was granted in 2013.

As well as the 450 positions in the various shops and restaurants, 225 construction jobs will be created during the development phase.

An artists impression of the new extension | Image: Hines Ireland

This will bring the total number of people employed within the centre to over 2,500.

Welcoming the announcement, centre director Denis O'Connell said: "It represents an exciting new phase of development for the centre which has evolved into a major shopping destination for west Dublin and beyond."

Now in its 17th year of trading, Liffey Valley now has full occupancy with 100 tenants including anchor brands Marks & Spencer, Next, Dunnes Stores and Boots.

The expected timeframe for the completion of the works will see the cinema upgrade open in Autumn 2015, with the new Penneys due to open in late 2016.

Brian Moran is senior managing director of Hines Ireland, which is part-owner of the centre.

He told Newstalk Breakfast about the plans.