Lidl 'disappointed' as new Westmeath store is turned down by planning board
Lidl Ireland said it was "disappointed" and was reviewing its future options in the Athlone area after An Bord Pleanála refused permission for a proposed €10 million new store development on the Dublin Road.
The supermarket chain submitted a planning application last April for a new "state-of-the-art" outlet that would be located across from its current premises, on the site of the Colm Quinn Motorstore in Athlone Business Park.
Its plan was to close the existing store once the new premises was ready to open.
However, in June, Westmeath County Council refused planning permission for the project, saying that allowing a supermarket on the site would constitute "adhoc, piecemeal development at an out-of-town location" and would give rise to "unsustainable" traffic movements.
Lidl appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála, which has now upheld the council's planning refusal.
In a decision signed off on Thursday last, February 3, the planning board concluded that the location of the store was "removed from the town centre of Athlone" and was contrary to the Athlone Joint Retail Strategy as it "would have an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the existing town centre."
The board also found that the "scale and extent" of the development would contravene the 'enterprise and employment' zoning of the site under the Athlone Town Development Plan.
The decision is a fresh blow for the chain's local plans, after An Bord Pleanála last year refused it permission for a second Athlone store at the site of O'Meara's garage in Baylough.
This afternoon the company was contacted by the Westmeath Independent about the latest planning refusal.
A response issued on behalf of Lidl Ireland Property Executive, Brian Smyth, read: "While this outcome is disappointing, we strongly believe that the development of this new state-of-the-art store would be a great addition to Athlone and would provide a significant local investment, new jobs, and premium quality food at market leading value to this thriving community.
"We will review the decision and what our next steps might be in due course," he stated.