Lidl granted permission to demolish and rebuild Mayo foodstore

Mayo County Council has granted planning permission for Lidl to demolish their current Castlebar store and develop a larger discount foodstore supermarket.

Lidl Ireland submitted an application plans to demolish the current Castlebar store which is located on the Moneen Road and construct a part single part two storey Discount Foodstore Supermarket which will have a retail sales area of 1,670 square metres which will be larger than the current retail area of 1,276 square metres.

The redevelopment will also consist of the redevelopment and reconfiguration and extension of existing site layout including provision of car and cycle parking, hard and soft landscaping; relocation of vehicular access on Leisure Point / Barcastle Link Road incorporating raised junction detail and the relocation of Moneen Road pedestrian access.

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The current Castlebar store was developed in 2007 but Lidl Ireland claimed in their planning statement that the existing store is no longer suitable to cater for customer expectations and the existing scale of demand.

“The redevelopment of the store affords the opportunity to provide a modern retail building, of a higher specification than the existing store, and which will enhance the character of the area, and provide a better shopping and working environment,” stated the planning statement which was prepared by Castlebar-based architects, The Planning Partnership.

“The applicant submits that it would not be practical or feasible to achieve the desired outcome through an extension / reconfiguration of the existing building. Extension / reconfiguration would require significant structural alterations such that a considerable portion of the existing building would be removed with only a portion of the shell remaining.”

The Planning Partnership stated that the design of the proposed structure represents 'a major improvement on the existing store' and is modern in outlook with extensive use of glazing 'to emphasise key elements of the structure and will present a strong urban form on the subject site'.

“Whilst the design of the proposed Lidl store is aligned with a corporate image, this approach has been widely accepted both by local Planning Authorities (including locally at Claremorris in recent years) and An Bord Pleanála. For the avoidance of doubt however, the proposed store is not a ‘standard’ design, having been adapted as necessary to address the site conditions and characteristics. The façade to the Moneen Road (and wrapping around each corner) is particularly strong, whilst the western and northern elevations are relatively neutral, however nonetheless present a quality finish to the surrounding areas,” they noted.

Lidl also claimed that it is estimated that the proposed store will provide up to ten additional direct full time jobs, in addition to the existing full time equivalent staff level and generate up to €500,000 additionally per annum locally in wages. In terms of construction stage employment, they estimate a dividend to the area in the order of €3 million during the course of the build.

During the planning stage, Mayo County Council planners noted that the front elevation of the proposed new building is significantly closer to Moneen Road/ St Martin's Terrace than the existing supermarket elevation.

They stated that the front elevation of the existing supermarket is the established building line and the existing building line should be maintained in any proposed new development.

In response, the applicant agreed to adjust the building line by approximately 3.5 metres in line with the existing building line as requested and maintained that the proposed store will follow the existing building line of the Lidl Foodstore.

“The proposed development will in our opinion clearly enhance the visual amenities of the area, whilst preserving the existing building line, and will not interfere with any future road improvements,” The Planning Partnership stated in response.

Mayo County Council recommended granting Lidl Ireland planning permission for the new development subject to 21 planning conditions.