But shoppers will have to wait at least three years to enter the doors of the centre, where Marks & Spencer are rumoured to have their first outlet in the city centre, by which time the Coonagh Cross development and ParkPoint retail centre in Castletroy will be completed.

Robert Bloomer of Hamilton Osborne King said the developers are hopeful that this new application "will be more straightforward" than the last contentious application, which was passed by An Bord Pleanala after numerous local objections.

However, the developers could potentially face another major battle with City Hall, as they are seeking to include The Granary – a listed building –- and home to Trinity Rooms nightclub, as well as the city library, into the development.

Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Kiely, a member of the council's strategic planning committee, said this application could take up to two years to process if there are objections from the public, and has major concerns about how the development has proceeded since its inception two years ago.

"One of my major concerns is that they haven't entered into any negotiations with Trinity Rooms, where about 90 people are working. Furthermore, all of lower Patrick Street is now closed and it's not doing anything for the image of the city. I think they jumped the gun in taking those retailers out too soon and it doesn't look right to have all those shops boarded up," said Cllr Kiely.

But Joe Clarke, manager of Trinity Rooms, said they would be delighted to be part of the Opera Centre, which he believes will breathe more life into the city centre, and confirmed that they will not be forced to find another venue for the club.

Some 275 jobs will be generated during the construction phase and approximately 800 full and part time jobs will be created once the centre is open and trading.

For more see Limerick Leader City Edition