Lidl gets green light in Dunshaughlin

Plans for a Lidl supermarket on the former sales yard site in Dunshaughlin have been given the green light by Meath County Council.

Residents of Dunshaughlin and the surrounding areas who have been campaigning for increased choice will be hoping that this application makes it successfully through the planning process after a previous application by Aldi on the opposite side of the street, granted permission by the council, was then refused by an Bord Pleanala on appeal.
Almost 500 residents signed an online petition supporting Lidl’s application which was handed in to Meath County Council by local councillor and Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Gerry O’Connor who has welcomed the decision to grant permission.
“It is a great development and will revitalise this area of the town. I hope it won’t be subject to an appeal to Bord Pleanala," he said.
“The fact that 500 people signed an online petition in support of the application shows how much it would be welcomed in the town. It will create about 20 jobs and hopefully most of these will be local. There will be 160 parking spaces which will help with the parking issue in Dunshaughlin. There are two retail units and a cafe unit that would make that end of the village very attractive and may encourage others to invest in that end of the town.”
He added that a lot of people are leaving Dunshaughlin to shop in Lidl and Aldi in Ashbourne who would hopefully stay and spend money in the town.

A spokesperson for Lidl said: "Lidl is delighted to have received planning permission today from Meath County Council for a store development in Dunshaughlin. We have been inundated with unprecedented positive feedback from the local community in Dunshaughlin since we held an opening evening in July and would like to take the opportunity to thank the community for their continued support."

The spokesperson said the development works will take six months to complete and will create employment for over 50 workers during construction with a further 30 full times jobs created when the store opens. The company intends to commence construction as soon as possible.

The Lidl development on the former sales yard site includes a building with two retail units and cafe with outdoor area at ground floor level and two offices on the first floor, as well as a single storey discount supermarket with off-licence and 163 parking spaces. A new vehicle access off Main Street is proposed.
The plans include the demolition of the existing boundary wall along Main Street and the reuse of the material from the old stone wall in a feature.  The existing bus stop along Main Street will be relocated north of its current location and a bus shelter provided.