Planning granted for Aldi sign on Mayo store despite resident's appeal

Planning permission has been granted for an Aldi sign outside one of their supermarkets in north Mayo despite objections from local residents.

An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly known as An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the erection of a three-metre squared non-illuminated gable Aldi sign on the southern elevation of its new store facing Bury Street in Ballina.

Mayo County Council granted planning permission for the sign in 2023 but some residents who resided opposite the Aldi store on Bury Street appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

In their appeal, Edward and Janet Bourke stated that there are already four large Aldi signs on the building and an additional sign will have a detrimental impact on the character of the street.

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“Another sign, over an emergency exit not an entrance, would make little difference to Aldi but would have a long lasting and detrimental impact on our visual and residential amenity and way of life,” they wrote.

The Bourke's also expressed concern that the sign may in time be illuminated by an overhead light and this would disrupt their sleep patterns and 'overall our domestic life would be changed irrevocably'.

The appellants also stated that their home is listed as 'Architectural Artistic' on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and they have had to go to expense to retain the character of the home along the street.

Noel White who also resides on Bury Street also made an appeal where he also cited architectural concerns for the appeal.

In his report, Mr Fergal Ó Bric, Planning Inspector with An Coimisiún Pleanála stated that the proposed sign is typical of the corporate signage provided by the Aldi supermarket chain and described it as modest.

He added it would not constitute an 'incongruous feature' within the local streetscape, by virtue of the fact that it will not be unduly visible due to the presence of the mature trees along the streetscape immediately between the supermarket building and Bury Street.

In addressing concerns regarding its impact on the architectural heritage of the street, he stated that no development should result in any adverse impact upon the local architectural heritage but felt this would not be the case in this instance due to the width of the street and the existence of mature trees.

“I consider that the proposal as sought for the erection of a three square metre non-illuminated sign will not adversely impact the residential amenity of the residents on the opposite side of Bury Street having regard to the separation distances between the proposed signage and the heritage structures and given the existence of the mature tree planting on the northern side of the Bury Street streetscape.

“I consider that the residential amenity of the residents on the southern side of Bury Street would not be adversely impacted as a result of the erection of the non-illuminated sign,” he stated.

As a result of his findings, Mr Ó Bric recommended to the Commission to grant planning permission as the sign would not detract from the architectural and visual amenities of the area nor the streetscape and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The Commission granted planning permission for the erection of the sign subject to three conditions.