Lidl store for Dunboyne given the green light

Plans for a Lidl supermarket in the centre of Dunboyne village have been given the green light by An Bord Pleanala.

The planning authority last week upheld Meath County Council's decision to grant planning permission for the development paving the way for the German retailer to proceed with its plans for a supermarket on a site beside St Peter and St Paul's Church in the village.

The hugely controversial planning application had prompted a number of public meetings and drew 262 objections mainly concerned with the changes proposed to the Main Street area including the loss of parking and the installation of a set of traffic lights.

In January last year, Meath Co Council granted permission to Lidl to build a single storey discount foodstore with a gross floor area of 2,220sqm and net sales area of 1,409sqm with an ancillary off licence area together with parking for 119 cars.

This decision was subsequently appealed to an Bord Pleanala.

A cafe retail unit of 165sqm adjacent to a proposed plaza area is planned for the existing car park to the west of the church.

The entrance to the development will be approximately in the same location as the existing entrance to the car park. The previously church-owned site was sold to Lidl by St Finian's Diocesan Trust and the planning application included a car park with 53 spaces to serve St Peter and Paul's Church which would be connected to the grounds of the church.

Traffic management changes form part of the proposal and include a right turning lane on Main Street, a reduction in car parking spaces on the north side of the green and the removal of parking spaces on the east side.

The plans include a four-arm staggered signalised junction with controlled pedestrian crossings at Main Street to the south east of the green and the removal of parking spaces and kerb build outs to facilitate improved public realm space and achieve required forward visibility of the traffic signals and crossing points.

In granting permission for the development, an Bord Pleanala stated that: "Having regard to the sites zoning objective, its identification in the Meath Retail Strategy 2020-2026 as a retail opportunity site, its location within an existing urban area and the nature and scale of the proposed development, it is considered that subject to compliance with the conditions set out, the proposed development would be acceptable and would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity, would be acceptable in terms of built heritage, traffic safety and convenience" and would therefore be "in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

Reacting to the decision, local councillor, Maria Murphy (FG) said she was very disappointed that there weren't recommendations to limit the changes proposed for the Main Street as part of the decision to grant permission. She said that in her opinion the large lights junction approved for beside Eurospar was "too invasive for that area".

"The changes to the Main Street will have a detrimental effect on small businesses and residents living in that area. The reduction in parking will have a really bad effect. Public car parks can't be replaced by private parking that the council has no control over," said Cllr Murphy.

She said most people don't have an issue with Lidl and that it is the proposed changes to the centre of the village that they have an issue with.

Cllr Murphy also pointed out that some elements of the proposal contradict the pedestrian and cycle lane scheme planned for the village and said something will have to shift.

For example, she said there isn't room for a two-way cycle lane on Main Street and a right turning lane for Lidl.

The late Cllr Damien O'Reilly who passed away suddenly last year was one of the most vocal opponents to the plans. His cousin, Cllr Caroline O'Reilly, who was co-opted to fill his seat said she was "beyond disappointed" that the Lidl development was granted, despite many objections including from Damien who was "incredibly passionate about protecting the character of the village".

She said: "While Damien welcomed investment from Lidl in the area, he was strongly opposed to the location of the building in the Dunboyne Architectural Conservation area particularly the altering of the special historical character of Dunboyne and The Green. He was very concerned that a private business was redesigning areas of the village outside its boundary and increasing traffic flows at a time that policy is to divert traffic from village centres in the interest of safety as well as the removal of public parking spaces to facilitate this private development. It’s a huge blow to the village and businesses alike. There are other locations to suit such a development that should have been considered."