A £30 million sterling (€46.2 million) shopping and leisure development with potential for 1,000 jobs is planned for the outskirts of Antrim by ACI Developments.

The Coleraine company is working on the scheme along with the Guinea Group, a retail development firm based in Edinburgh.

ACI managing director Mr Alistair Kennedy said it was a great opportunity to bring an innovative concept to Northern Ireland.

The two companies want to build what they describe as a factory outlet "shopping village" on a 26-acre site close to the town, complete with 10-screen cinema and retail warehousing, which could open in November 2000.

"The proposal is in accordance with the regional strategy, and will bring significant economic spinoffs to the area," Mr Kennedy said.

"Taking into consideration the regeneration of the entire 82-acre site, there is without doubt the potential to create upwards of 1,000 new jobs over the next four to five years."

Up to 50,000sq ft will be dedicated to products from Northern Ireland manufacturers and brands, and space has also been allocated to tourism and information centres.

"Experience in the UK shows that shoppers visit factory outlets as part of a day out," Mr Kennedy said.

"And they will come from a considerable distance."

He played down suggestions that the development could damage business in Antrim town centre, saying factory outlets such as those planned would complement the existing retail market.

But plans for the shopping village are only part of a package involving 82 acres of land, including a nine-acre site on which will be built a supermarket, a project that is the subject of a public inquiry.

Factory outlet shopping started in the US, and is already well-established elsewhere in the UK.

It involves manufacturers and retailers from the fashion, homeware, and giftware sectors grouped together in a "shopping village".

Companies such as Nike, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Levi's, Jaeger and Royal Doulton open individual outlets selling end of lines, last season's stock, overruns, and cancelled orders at discounts of up to 60 per cent from the recommended high street prices.

ACI is a member of the Kennedy Group of companies, whose activities include construction, property development, residential housing, hotels and leisure, manufacturing and plant hire.