*An artist’s impression of the store in Ennistymon.
LIDL have lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála after they were refused planning permission for a store in Ennistymon.
The German supermarket giant had applied for planning permission for a two-storey food store on the Lahinch Road in January but were refused by Clare County Council on the grounds of traffic and competition concerns.
Clare County Council highlighted “an existing deficiency in the road network serving the area”, which contributed to their decision to refuse. The planning department believed that the development would cause increased congestion in the town, due to perceived faults “in the structural condition of roads and footpaths in the vicinity of Blake’s Corner”. Lack of pedestrian linkage from the town was also a factor in their refusal.
MKO planning consultants disagreed with this however and noted examples of traffic flow that already exist in the town. They stated that “HGVs currently traverse through Blake’s Corner as evidenced by the results of the traffic counts recorded at this junction. OGV type 1 and 2 (which includes HGV) as well as buses were recorded utilising the junction throughout the period of traffic counts”.
“While some of the traffic will arrive from the east through the Blake’s corner junction, it is expected that traffic from the eastbound direction will still be substantial, for example there are two quarries located to the west of the site which will not utilise the Blake’s corner junction”, it continues.
MKO have also appealed against the potential lack of pedestrian access to the site which caused Lidl to be refused planning permission. In their appeal, they suggested that “there is safe and convenient pedestrian linkage to the local residential area of Ardnaculla and its environs. The proposed Part 8 scheme will provide upgraded pedestrian facilities within this area and the bridge area to further enhance the pedestrian options for access to this site”.
The applicants have also questioned Clare County Council’s concerns in relation to consumer competition in the town. The planning department was concerned about the impact the development could have on Ennistymon, which already features Super Valu and Aldi stores. The planning department stated in their report that “the assessment does not consider the potential impact of the proposed development on the vitality and viability of other settlements in the catchment area, included but not limited to Miltown Malbay”.
MKO has countered this however by highlighting the Council’s objectives such as “to support service towns as important centres for the provision and retail services” and “to encourage the provision of good quality convenience outlets capable of supporting a main food shopping trip”. The Lidl planned for Ennistymon would help to fulfil these objectives, they argue.
Lidl has estimated that if given the go ahead, the proposed store could generate revenues of over €10.4m
An Bord Pleanála has eighteen weeks to make a decision on the appeal.
