Planning decision for new Laois Lidl supermarket put on pause

The planning decision for a new Lidl supermarket in a Laois town has been put on hold.

Laois County Council's planners are considering whether to approve the discount store for Mountmellick, with the decision initially due in late July.

Lidl Ireland GmbH say that the new store will create 25 jobs in Mountmellick, adding €1 million per year to the local economy and reversing dereliction and vacancy, by replacing a prominent derelict business premises, formerly a Nissan and Chevrolet dealership, and four vacant houses. 

The site for Lidl in Mountmellick. 

However the council planners have put the application on hold. They have given Lidl six months to come back with the following extra information.

They want objections to the supermarket addressed, related to possible traffic congestion, flooding, effect on businesses and viability and vitality of the town, which were raised in a submission by a Monasterevin based company.

The planners also ask what impact there will be on properties "due to noise, light, proximity, permeability, damage and connectivity". Two neighbouring homeowners had submitted concerns about these issues.

The council wants nine more issues addressed. They want more parking spaces and e charging spaces, a lighting design report, a road safety audit for parking, cycling and walking. They also want changes to the flood risk assessment. They ask for an analysis and mitigation steps on the impact to neighbours of overshadowing, loss of light and amenity. 

They also ask Lidl to explain how they defined their retail catchment area.

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Addressing an issue raised by Mountmellick Town Team and Cllr Paddy Bracken in submissions, the planners ask Lidl to provide pedestrian and cycling linkages to O'Moore Street and Twomey Terrace.

They further want to be given a plan for unused land on the site. 

Laois County Council say that a decision will be made four weeks after the extra information is submitted.