Planning decision released on Aldi store in Johnstown

Plans for an Aldi supermarket on Metges Road in Johnstown, Navan have been given the green light by Meath County Council planners.

Planning permission has been granted to Byrnell Developments Ltd subject to conditions for a single storey retail food store of 1,840 sqm (1,315 sqm net retail) with ancillary off-licence sales area and external service area, illuminated signage and a car park for 89 cars at Metges Road, Johnstown, Navan. The site extends to 0.818 hectares. The supermarket will be occupied by German retailer Aldi.

Meanwhile, Meath County Council has also granted permission for a separate planning application by the same developer for 45 social and affordable apartments on an adjacent site at Metges Road.

Byrnell Developments Ltd sought permission for 45 social and affordable apartments in two blocks of four and five storeys made up of 36 one-bedroom apartments and nine two-bedroom apartments with PV panels.

Car parking for 56 cars, a single vehicular access from the Metges Road and two pedestrian entrances were also part of the plans, along with a communal garden open space area. The site is 0.46 hectares.

Planning permission has been granted subject to conditions.

A previous proposal by Hunt Capital for the site prompted protests in 2019 by local residents who were opposed to plans for 104 apartments and 1,500sqm of commercial space .

As it was deemed a strategic housing development, at that time it went straight to Bord Pleanala for consideration who granted permission in Ocotber 2019.

The 1.23 acre site was later put up for sale and sold in a Bid X auction in 2022 for €1.11m.

Two new planning applications for the site were subsequently lodged by Byrnell Developments in December 2023 with Meath County Council seeking further information the plans in February of last year which was submitted in October 2024.