Aldi gets green light for new Tuam supermarket

Construction of a new discount store in Tuam will commence before the end of the year – providing around 30 new jobs in the process.

That’s after Aldi received the all clear to start work on the new store in the North Galway town – construction is expected to commence over the coming months, with a 2021 opening date.

Late last year Galway County Council granted planning permission for the new store in Tuam – but this became the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanala by RGDATA, who represent independently-owned grocery outlets.

In their appeal, they stated that while they support the development of new businesses in town centres, they felt that it would have an adverse impact on other retail outlets.

However, the Planning Appeals Board have given the green light to the new Tuam store, much to the delight of shoppers in the area who are also calling for a Tesco to be developed in the town – given its population of around 8,000.

An Bord Pleanala felt that as the development will be serviced by 97 car parking spaces, it would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety.

However, they have stated that there will be a road widening issue to be carried out to ensure safety for motorists while a road safety audit also has to be completed by the developer.

There were a total of 13 conditions attached to the granting of planning permission with many of these relating to traffic safety and access to the edge of town centre site.

A spokesperson for Aldi Ireland said that work on the store in Tuam would commence before the end of the year and would be open in 2021. She estimated that around 30 people would be employed there.

Galway East TD Sean Canney welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanala, saying that the new store will greatly improve the footfall of shoppers in Tuam.

He said that it would have a positive effect on all the local shops, boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants in the town. He added that it would also provide valuable employment.

Deputy Canney said that he could not understand this appeal given that the development would enhance the town centre businesses and might result in the opening of some premises that had closed down for years.

Fears had been expressed over the fact that it will be constructed on the existing Glynn’s Hardware site on the Old Ballygaddy Road and would result in even more traffic woes than currently exists at this location.

Planning permission was granted for the 1,800 square metre supermarket more than a year after the application was originally submitted to Galway County Council who had requested alterations to the design and layout of the building.

It will be constructed in the hardware yard and involves the demolition of an existing building and other structures and will provide customers with ample car parking spaces.