Council critical of proposed Lidl store as ‘car dependent standalone supermarket’

Roscommon County Council, in its decision to refuse plans for a new Lidl store in Monksland, said the proposed supermarket would prioritise car users over pedestrians and would fail to contribute positively to the vision of the area as a mixed-use district centre.

In its decision, the council adjudicated that the proposed store would function as a self-contained destination and "would set a precedent for other similarly inappropriate development and fail to make a positive contribution to the ‘District Centre’ environment.”

The local authority was of the opinion that the proposed development would "militate against" the achievement of the principles set out in Roscommon County Council’s Smarter Travel Initiative. 

"This emphasises the prioritisation of pedestrian mobility and alternative modes of transport to the car, and would fail to promote the principles of active travel and sustainable development," it said.

Lidl Ireland had lodged a planning application with the council to develop a new discount store in Monksland with a gross floor area of 2,358sqms.  The plans also included a separate 145.8sqms café/restaurant with a sheltered outdoor seating area along with another retail unit of 145.4sqms.

The proposed development was being planned on three acres of land to the south of the T-junction on the R362, and immediately south of the Joe Duffy car showroom on the L-7596-0.

The council ruled that the retail project would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. 

"The development if permitted in isolation would result in the creation of a development on the subject lands which has a limited mix of uses, would be dominated by vehicular access, would fail to provide connectivity to and integrate with other surrounding ‘District Centre’ zoned lands, and would not assist in consolidating the built-up area nor would it be conducive to creating a vibrant centre and sense of place in this core area of Monksland,” said the council.

Critical of the visual impact of the proposals, the council described the proposed supermarket structure “as lacking in architectural merit.” 

“The proposed development would fail to enhance the fabric of the existing urban area, with the predominance proposed structure failing to adhere to the principles of good urban design, as required in Policy Objective TV 4.3 of the County Development Plan,” it said.

Lidl Ireland has now four weeks to appeal the decision to an An Coimisiún Pleanála if it chooses to do so.