Video shows Conor McGregor's incredible plans for new property empire by Dublin's Grand Canal

McGregor is set to fork out an estimated €100m to build 300 apartments, shops, cafés and a supermarket in three separate adjoining sites along the Grand Canal in Drimnagh.

Our exclusively obtained architect's plans and pictures show 188 apartments in a complex towering from three to nine floors on the old former Heidelberg / Miller building and SCR Garage site on Davitt Road, which is now being assessed by An Bord Pleanála.

And our specially commissioned aerial pictures show not only the site of those build-to-rent apartments, which he has paid an initial €15m for, but also an enormous adjacent site which formerly housed a paint shop.

The UFC star purchased the site for several million euro more and for which he plans on building a further 100-plus apartments.

He intends to turn some of these apartments in the second complex into social and affordable housing, which would earn him extra leverage in gaining planning permission. It would also lead to a healthy profit if he sells them to the city council or a housing charity.

But it would still mean that about 250 apartments will be rental only on the site which borders south inner city Dublin, which will result in McGregor creaming in nearly half a million in funds every month.

We can also reveal that McGregor only finalised the purchase of the nearby Marble Arch pub in a third adjacent site on November 15.

"I had a price in my head and I'm happy with the price," publican Chris Kelly, who sold the Marble Arch to McGregor, told the Sunday World.

Chris would not reveal the price the MMA sportstar paid for the famous pub but it's believed Conor could have splashed close to €2m on the March Arch.

McGregor, who has a fortune of around €300m, bought the nearby Black Forge pub in Crumlin last year for €1.9m and has spent over €1m renovating the hostelry he has frequented since his teens.

The Marble Arch was where McGregor infamously punched innocent Dubliner Desmond Keogh (50) in April 2019 when the customer rfused to taste McGregor's s 'Proper 12' whiskey.

Keogh refused the shot and McGregor punched him in the head, for which he later pleaded guilty to assault and paid a €1,000 fine over the incident.

The Sunday World can also disclose that McGregor may now demolish the Marble Arch.

"He has set his sights on building a big brand supermarket on the site of the Marble Arch, which is on a corner and would have ample space for a car park," reveals our source.

"He would be able to use the licence for the Marble Arch to get a seven-day alcohol licence for the new supermarket."

Besides the supermarket and two complexes of nearly 300 apartments, McGregor is also planning to build a gym and several retail units, which will house coffee shops, hairdressers and fashion outlets.

His planned enclave is on the Luas tram line, with stops 160 metres away on either side at Goldenbridge and Suir Road.

Plans seen by the Sunday World for his initial development of 188 apartments on Davitt Road show that 20 of them will be studios, 79 one-bedroom and 89 two-bedroom units.

As to the height of up to nine storeys, plans claim: "Given the width of the existing carriageway, the Luas track and the Grand Canal, there is potential to absorb greater building heights at this corridor."

McGregor is also hinting at further developments along the canal bank in the area after he finishes the initial site, which would obviously include the paint shop site and that where the March Arch stands.