Homebase creates 48 new jobs in Navan

A new Homebase store is to open this week at the Navan Retail Park, creating a total of 48 new jobs, both full and part-time. With a total area of approximately 30,000 square feet, the new store features kitchen and bathroom showrooms along with DIY products including, paint, wallpaper and flooring. The official opening willt ake place this Friday, 13th November. Store manager, Neil Freeney, said: "I am delighted to be bringing a Homebase to Navan, offering locals a wide choice of stylish and affordable items for the home. Positioned close to the centre of town, we hope to get largely involved with the local community through joint schemes and in-store family events on a regular basis." To mark the launch, Navan Mayor, Cllr Joe Reilly, will cut a ribbon to officially open the store on Friday at 10am, just an hour after the store opens for business. The €70m Navan Retail Park is a development by Knockumber Property Developments, a 50/50 joint venture between Blackrock International Land and Lagan Developments (Holdings). The Homebase store is the anchor tenant in the park and the company said it had targeted Navan due to its population growth forecast and strong demographics. In addition to the anchor store, there are also 12 retail units and more than 1,000 car parking spaces. The park has extensive frontage to the new Athboy link road and the major roundabout that connects into the town's road infrastructure, including the Navan orbital route and the existing N3 Dublin-Cavan Road. Homebase stores across Ireland are now in their second year of two-year partnership with Heart Children Ireland and the stores throughout Ireland have already raised over €50,000 which will help provide a professional speech therapist and fund specialist medical support for young people with congenital heart disease. Said Mr Freeney: "We are all really pleased to be supporting the organisation as Heart Children Ireland provides support to many families affected by congenital heart disease, improving the quality of life for young people with the condition. We will be fundraising throughout the weekend for Heart Children Ireland, so please come along and support this very worthy cause."