LIDL’s appeal to construct a two-storey foodstore on the Lahinch Rd in Ennistymon has been rejected by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
An Coimisiún Pleanála rejected the appeal on two conditions, namely a threat to the water quality of the Inagh Estuary and the impact of the proposed development on the towns within the Ennistymon catchment area.
Clare County Council in March of this year refused the development over concerns about pedestrian connectivity as well as possible negative effects on local traffic and on the vitality and vibrancy of Ennistymon.
In their application for the two-storey unit, Lidl included a mobility management system to deal with traffic in the area and an environmental impact statement addressing concerns over potential light pollution.
Their proposed development was had a gross floor area 2261.4 sqm with 87 car parking spaces. Lidl had estimated construction would be completed within twelve months and that there would be 25 to 30 trips to and from the site daily at its peak.
Outlining reasons for rejecting the appeal, An Coimisiún Pleanála stated, “The existing public wastewater treatment plant serving Ennistymon Town does not meet its emission limit values as required in its licence and, therefore, poses a threat to the water quality of the transitional waterbody of the Inagh Estuary”.
Intent of the applicant to install a wastewater treatment plant to treat the effluent before it reaches the public sewer network was acknowledged by the planning authority. “The public network, as indicated in the latest Annual Environmental Report (2023), is failing to work efficiently and is not compliant with the ELVs as set out in the wastewater discharge licence. Having regard to the foregoing and based on the most up to date scientific evidence, the Commission is not satisfied that the proposed development, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, would not be likely to have a significant effect on the water quality of the Inagh River and Estuary. In such circumstances, the Commission is precluded from considering a grant of permission for the proposed development”.
Declan Moore in his planners report for the Commission also flagged the need for an additional store in Ennistymon “has not been justified”. The town already has an Aldi and SuperValu store. He referenced the linked service town designation of Ennistymon and Lahinch in the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 and the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012).
Moore stated, “It is considered that the Retail Impact Assessment submitted with the planning application has not assessed the impact of the proposed development on the towns within the Ennistymon catchment area, as identified in the Retail Strategy for the county, and that the need for an additional convenience store for Ennistymon Town at this location has not been justified and has not assessed its impact on the vitality and viability of the Ennistymon catchment area, which would be contrary to the Retail Planning Guidelines.
The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.
