Lidl gets green light for third Laois store

DISCOUNT chain Lidl has received a green light for its third store in Laois, despite opposition from community groups.

Planning permission has been granted, subject to 12 conditions, for a new retail outlet on the Killeshin Road in Graiguecullen near the Carlow border in Co Laois.

County councils in Laois and Carlow granted conditional permission this week on the planning application, which was submitted a year ago. Permission was granted by Carlow on 4 June and by Laois on 6 June, with objectors having four weeks to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

The plans involve demolition of the National Learning Network Centre/Rehabcare building to make way for a supermarket and off-licence, together with a car and cycle parking area with access from the Killeshin/ Castlecomer Road.

Graiguecullen Parish and St Fiacc’s House were among those who lodged submissions opposing the application.

St Fiacc's House strongly objected to the proposed supermarket following their investment of €50,000 in the development of a picnic area, which is directly adjacent to the proposed boundary wall of the store.

Other areas of concern included noise impact, light pollution and the restriction of daylight at St Fiacc’s House.

It is the second new Lidl store at the planning stage in Laois, following the recent application for another discount supermarket on the site of the derelict former Central Garage in Mountmellick. 

The go-ahead would bring the number of Lidl stores in the county to four, together with Portlaoise and Portarlington.

In a planning statement, Lidl said the Mountmellick store would create up to 25 direct full-time jobs, generating about €1m a year in wages, in addition to further jobs created or supported indirectly. The company also predicted that wages during the construction stage would reach more than €1.5m.