PICTURES: New Lidl in Laois town to create 25 jobs, "reversing dereliction"

Lidl Ireland GmbH is expanding to a third supermarket in Laois, with a planning application now submitted for a store in Mountmellick to replace a derelict former Nissan garage.

They say that the store will create 25 jobs in the town, adding €1 million per year to the local economy.  More below gallery of images.

An indicative image of the future Mountmellick Lidl store, included in the planning application.

The German founded discount retail chain has applied for planning permission to Laois County Council, to demolish the old Central Garage and adjacent houses on Emmett Street, and build a 2,201sqm store including a retail sales area of 1,457sqm.

A planning statement claims it will not disturb existing trade in the town.

"It is estimated that the proposed Lidl store will provide up to 25 direct full time jobs (generating in the order of €1 million per annum locally in wages), in addition to further jobs created or supported indirectly and other construction stage employment, in excess of €1.5 m in construction wages alone.

"The proposal will also provide the (growing, and targeted for growth) Mountmellick area with an enhanced retail offer, serving the town and its catchment with an appropriate level of food shopping facilities, whilst not disturbing the existing pattern of trade in the town.

"The proposed development will provide a positive contribution to the character of the area, being a complimentary use to the existing streetscape and reversing vacancy and dereliction.

"The proposed land use is a primary intended use within the town centre zoning of the subject site and will give effect to the settlement, town centre and retail planning objectives of the adopted County Development Plan, and expired Local Area Plan.

"A number of site locations have been reviewed and considered in recent years, for the development of a store in Mountmellick, complementing other stores in the wider Laois area, at Portlaoise and Portarlington."

"There is somewhat of a ‘gap’ in terms of the distribution of Supermarket / trolley scale shopping in Mountmellick, with a lack of progress in the sector in the town in a number of years since the development of the Super Valu outlet – outside the town centre – at Connolly Street".

It notes that "the existing premises and site is vacant and decaying".

They plan to close off a gateway access to Twomey Terrace. The main entrance will be on Emmett Street, with improvements to the public N80 road. This needs approval from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, separate to the planning application.

The existing access to O’Moore Street will be only used for maintenance, not for customer access. 

The Lidl would have 76 parking spaces at the back of the shop, with 22 bicycle spaces at the front. There will be two electric vehicle charging spaces, with provision for more.

The application says it will improve competitive shopping options in Mountmellick  and will not lead to material retail impacts on any retail centres; nor impacts on traffic, residential amenities.

Eight buildings will be demolished including four vacant houses either side of the garage. Lidl say their development respects the "existing streetscape whilst removing a number of incongruous and/or low value elements enabling the regeneration of the site. The scheme also engages with the street and the existing façade / boundary, providing activity to the street".

On deliveries, they say "there would normally be one main delivery per day and a maximum of two per day may occur on occasion (potentially along with a small number of specialised deliveries)".

The store would be open 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday inclusive and 9 am to 9 pm on Sunday’s and Public Holidays. It will have a deposit returns unit for plastic bottles and cans.

Laois County Council planners are due to make a decision in late July.