Lidl reaffirms commitment to Monksland community following planning appeal
An image of the proposed development in Monskland.
Lidl Ireland has formally appealed Roscommon County Council’s recent planning refusal, reaffirming its commitment to delivering a new, state-of-the-art store for the Monksland and wider Athlone community.
In a statement this morning the company said that "the proposed development represents a significant investment in the local area, designed to bring Lidl’s market-leading quality and unbeatable value to the local community.
"Lidl Ireland remains fully committed to working through the planning process to ensure the community gains access to enhanced shopping choice, local job creation and modern infrastructure as swiftly as possible."
In May, Lidl Ireland lodged a planning application with the council to develop a new discount store in Monksland with a gross floor area of 2,358sqms.
On Friday, July 17th, the local authority refused the project, believing that the proposed supermarket would be too car dependent for shoppers and would fail to contribute positively to the vision of the area as a mixed-use district centre.
Earlier this month an appeal was lodged by the company with An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Speaking about the proposed store, Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, commented: “We are deeply committed to opening a new, state-of-the-art store in Monksland to serve the growing needs of the wider Athlone community.
"While naturally we are disappointed by the initial planning decision, we have submitted a comprehensive appeal to ensure we can deliver our market-leading quality and value to local shoppers as soon as possible. We extend our sincere thanks to the community of Monksland for their overwhelming and ongoing support throughout our application. We’re committed to working diligently through the next stages of the planning process and welcoming local shoppers through our doors in due course.”
The company said that the planned location aims to provide a modern, sustainable retail experience equipped with energy-efficient technologies, ample parking and convenient access for surrounding residential areas.
