Appeals Board turns down plans for Lidl in Westside

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The Planning Appeals Board has overturned planning permission for a Lidl supermarket in the Westside, ruling it would be contrary to the land zoning for the area.

A planning inspector said that locating the store adjacent to the existing Aldi supermarket would result in a “clustering” of retailers in excess of the requirements of locals.

Earlier this year, the German retail giant was granted permission to develop the former Arch Motors site on Seamus Quirke Road.

That decision was subsequently appealed by the HSE – which voiced concerns that it could interfere with flight operations at the helipad at University Hospital Galway, while independent grocers’ group RGDATA also made a submission.

The Board’s Senior Planning Inspector, Jane Dennehy, said that to permit the Lidl supermarket would lead to “clustering of retailing outlets” and exceed the needs of the local catchment area.

The inspector said that while there was no dispute that the Arch Motors site is underutilised and in need of regeneration, there is potential for a “more intensive and efficient utilisation” of the site.

(Photo: an architect’s impression of the Lidl supermarket which was turned down).

This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story and the details of the HSE and RGDAT submission, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.