Lidl plans new supermarket in Laois

LIDL is planning to open its third supermarket in Laois, on the site of a long-derelict garage.

The new store would be constructed on Emmett Street in Mountmellick, at the former Central/Nissan Garage dealership that closed 14 years ago.

The German supermarket chain plans to demolish the old garage and four adjoining vacant properties, before constructing a retail store extending to almost 3,500sq.m.

The new store would consist of a part-single and part-two storey building together with a car park, according to the planning notice published this week.

The on-site notice states that Lidi Ireland intends to apply for planning permission for the development of a discount food store with off-licence sales, on the site comprising the former Central/Nissan Garage complex and numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 Emmett Street, bounding O’Moore Street and Twomey Terrace.

The application is for construction of a food store with ancillary off-licence use, with mono-pitch roof measuring c. 2,202sq.m gross floor space and a net retail sales area of c. 3,457sq.m.

The notice adds: ‘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.’ 

The old Central/Nissan garage on Emmett Street, on the main N80 road through Mountmellick, closed its doors in 2011 after 46 years in trade and has been vacant ever since.

In a prominent location, the property was constantly criticised as ‘an eyesore’ at council meetings, particularly by local councillor Paddy Bracken who repeatedly called for action regarding the boarded-up premises. Work was carried out to improve its appearance by Laois Co Council and Mountmellick Tidy Towns, including colourful murals organised by the Tidy Towns committee.

The Lidl Ireland group has been in discussions with Laois Co Council regarding the development and a planning notice was published on Monday 26 May.

The German discount chain, which already has stores in Portlaoise and Portarlington, also plans to build another Lidl supermarket in Graiguecullen, on the Laois/Carlow border.