Lidl apply for planning permission to build third Laois store

Little Laois Lidl fan Eanna O'Connor cutting the ribbon on the remodeled Portlaoise store in 2022 with store manager Ivars Zemvalds. Photo: Justin Farrelly

placeholder image — Little Laois Lidl fan Eanna O'Connor cutting the ribbon on the remodeled Portlaoise store in 2022 with store manager Ivars Zemvalds. Photo: Justin Farrelly

Derelict Mountmellick garage to be demolished for new supermarket

Lidl Ireland GmbH is officially seeking permission to build its third supermarket in Laois.

Confirming a story broken by the Leinster Express / Laois Live last March, the German discount supermarket chain has announced its intention to build a store and off licence in Mountmellick.

It will spell demolition and a new life for a former thriving Nissan and Chevrolet garage in the town, that has lain idle and a growing eyesore since it shut 14 years ago.

The business plans to first demolish the derelict Central Garage along with the four vacant houses either side of it, numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 Emmett Street, which is the main N80 road to Tullamore.

In the planning notices erected on the site on May 26, Lidl give full details.

“Lidi Ireland GmbH intend to apply for permission for development for a Discount Foodstore Supermarket with ancillary off-licence sales at Emmett Street, Mountmellick, Co. Laois (comprising the former Central/Nissan Garage complex, including nos. 4:7 Emmett Street and Eircodes R32 Y820, R32 YF79, R32 P234, R32 WR28 and R32 WKo6, also bounding O’Moore Street and Twomey Terrace).

The company plans "the demolition of eight existing buildings, including single storey, two storey, detached, semi-detached and terraced configurations, removal of additional ancillary / derelict structures and associated site clearance.

“The construction of a part single part two storey Discount Foodstore (with ancillary off-licence use) with mono-pitch roof measuring c. 2,202 sqm gross floor space with a net retail sales area of c 3,457 5qm."

A new carpark will be built, accessed off Emmett Street, with secondary site access retained from O'Moore Street.

Two of the derelict houses on the site that included in Lidl's demolition plan.

“Construction of associated car and cycle parking with revised main site access from (and associated works on) Emmett Street.

Existing site accesses to the rear lane of Twomey Terrace will be removed. Existing site access to O’Moore Street will remain in situ.

“Provision/repair/replacement (as required) of boundary treatments, free standing and building mounted signage, free standing trolley bay, roof mounted refrigeration and air conditioning plant and equipment, hard and soft landscaping, public lighting, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, roof mounted solar panels, ESB substation, drainage, utility and services infrastructure and connections, and all other associated and ancillary development and works above and below ground level.”

Another house included in demolition plans on the Central Garage site.

The company is including a Natura Impact Statement with its application, which will be available to view on the Laois County Council planning website.

Meanwhile, Aldi Ireland has unveiled a list of towns it would like to expand to, and Mountmellick is the only Laois town on the list. They already have stores in Portlaoise and Portarlington.

The once thriving Mountmellick Nissan garage was liquidated in 2011 after 46 years. The empty property become a centre for anti social behaviour, with doors and windows smashed, and the interior trashed, before it was boarded up in 2014.

Laois County Council placed it on the Derelict Sites List twice over the years, removing it after the front was cleaned up. The council replaced disintegrating hoarding on the gate in 2023 with metal sheeting out of its own funds.