*Photograph: Joe Buckley
PLANNING permission has been granted for a new Lidl store at Shannon Town Centre, with the replacement supermarket set to more than double the size of the existing store while providing 154 fewer car parking spaces.
Clare County Council has granted conditional permission for Lidl Ireland GmbH to demolish the existing discount foodstore and replace it with a new single-storey store.
The new store would be more than twice the size of the existing store overall, while the shopping area would increase from 989 square metres to 1,742 square metres.
However, the number of car parking spaces would fall from 299 to 145.
The proposed parking provision includes five disabled spaces, 10 parent-and-child spaces and two electric vehicle charging spaces. A total of 36 bicycle parking spaces would also be provided.
The plans include a 978 square metre area of roof-mounted solar panels, a new plant area, revised drainage and site lighting, landscaping and a new HGV and loading bay area.
The store would continue to be accessed from the existing vehicular junctions at Bóthar na Rinne and Bóthar an Aerfoirt.
Clare County Council had previously raised concerns about the proposed store’s visual impact, traffic management and parking provision, and requested further information from the developer, which was later provided.
Nearby residents in Dernish Lawn made a submission raising concerns about aspects of the proposal.
The residents raised concerns about the proposed positioning of an ESB substation close to houses 13 to 15, as well as potential noise from the substation and other machinery associated with the store.
They also raised concerns about noise from trucks unloading during early morning deliveries and construction noise during the redevelopment works.
The residents said the proposed building could have an adverse effect on the visual outlook of houses opposite the site, which they said are located below road level.
They also called for the public right-of-way between the pedestrian lights and the town centre to be maintained throughout construction, highlighting the number of older residents living in Dernish Lawn and Tola Park.
The residents suggested that the store should be moved further back from the road or relocated to the southern side of the access road.
The Lidl proposal forms part of the future development plans for Shannon Town Centre, with the planning report stating that the site is identified as part of a proposed “core intervention area” under the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan.
The masterplan envisages a new main street, residential development above street-level retail and services, a civic square and the One Shannon Hub in the wider town centre area.
Lidl’s planning report states that the proposed store has been designed with the masterplan in mind and would allow for future development around the site.
The planning report also states that measures will be taken to encourage sustainable transport, including walking, cycling and public transport.
A road safety audit carried out as part of the application identified a number of issues which could potentially create hazards for vehicles and pedestrians, with the report stating that these had been addressed as part of the design process.
The council’s planning decision was made on August 13, 2026, and is subject to 14 conditions.
