Dunnes set to expand Briarhill store

Galway City Council has given the go-ahead for the expansion of the Dunnes Stores supermarket in Briarhill.

Liam Mulryan, owner of the Briarhill Shopping Centre, had sought permission for the amalgamation of Unit 9 in the centre, which is vacant, with the adjoining Dunnes supermarket.

The expansion would add 139 square metres to the supermarket, allowing for a reconfigured and modernised shop floor; improved checkout layout and enhanced circulation space between aisles.

“Dunnes Stores has been operating a supermarket for almost eleven years. Since this time there have been limited changes to the internal layout. The proposed development seeks to modernise and reconfigure the existing supermarket.

“The increase in actual retail space will not lead to an increase in new customers visiting the store, but rather will allow for internal improvements,” the application reads.

When planning permission for the shopping centre was originally granted, Unit 9 was to be a childcare facility and has been vacant since it was built. At one point, the Council permitted a temporary change of use to a butcher shop/retail use, but that permission was never activated.

When Mr Mulryan sought permission earlier this year for a change of use for retail, the Council noted that there does not appear to be a market for a childcare use.

“It may be a case that the size, layout and location of the unit in question is not suitable for a drop-off childcare facility.

“However, it is also evident that retail shopping patterns have changed in the recent past, with customers purchasing a smaller volume of goods, on a more frequent basis, as opposed to more traditional shopping patterns, where customers purchased a larger volume of goods less frequently e.g. once a week.

“In this context, the need for a drop-off childcare facility has reduced over time, particularly in smaller retail centres, where only one anchor tenant is present and there is less likelihood of customers remaining on site for a prolonged period of time,” Executive Planner Peter Staunton said.

Planners have approved the application to extend Dunnes and stipulated that all demolition and construction activity can only take place between 8am and 6pm on Mondays to Fridays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.