planning application Archives - Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer

Tesco loses legal challenge over Asda’s green light for Newtownabbey superstore

Linda Stewart — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 11:05:04 +0000

Tesco has lost a legal challenge to rival Asda being granted planning permission to build a new superstore in Newtownabbey.

High Court proceedings were brought after approval was given for the supermarket and petrol station at the former Nortel site at Monkstown Industrial Estate on the Doagh Road, Newtownabbey.

The £17.5m development is expected to generate up to 250 full-time and part-time jobs.

A judge dismissed a judicial review case centred on alleged failures and flaws in how the local authority applied relevant planning policy.

Asda was granted permission to demolish the existing building on the site and replace it with a food store, eight-bay filling station, car parking and a click-and-collect facility.

During the hearing it was claimed that the council incorrectly dealt with the issue of site selection under the Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland.

The SPSS includes an objective to adopt a “town centres-first approach” for the location of future retailing, involving the application of a “sequential” assessment of possible other locations in the decision-making process.

According to Tesco’s case, the authority wrongly concluded that a potential alternative site at Abbey Trading Centre (ATC) on the Longwood Road was unavailable, therefore failing to investigate and consider the questions of suitability and viability.

But Mr Justice Scoffield held that it was neither irrational nor unfair for the council to deal with the case on the basis of information before it.

“The Tesco assertion at the Planning Committee meeting that the site was available was essentially a bald assertion made without evidence,” he said.

“In the present case, when the impugned decision was made, the ATC site was plainly unavailable in my view.”

The judge confirmed: “None of the applicant’s grounds of judicial review are made out and I dismiss the application for judicial review.”

Mr Justice Scoffield also described late interventions made by Tesco when the planning request was due to be considered as “an unsettling element”.

He added: “It is difficult to discern whether the timing of these objection letters was specifically designed as a spoiling tactic, although the court can quite see why the notice party (Asda) may harbour significant suspicions in that respect.”

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Rocklands Service Station objects to building of a Lidl supermarket on the Rosslare Road in Wexford

Linda Stewart — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:16:45 +0000

Rocklands Service Station in Wexford is objecting to the building of a new Lidl supermarket at Rocksborough on the Rosslare Road, pointing out that the development will have a negative impact on retail business in the town centre.

Lidl Ireland has lodged an application with Wexford County Council for permission to build a ‘discount foodstore’ with an overall floor space of 2,209 square metres including an off licence on a green field site behind Kerlogue Nursing Home and opposite Kerlogue Manor housing estate.

The application includes the construction of an access road from the Rosslare Road, serving the proposed development and facilitating the future development of adjoining lands along with a pedestrian access, car parking, refrigeration and air conditioning plant and equipment, roof mounted solar panels and an electricity sub-station.

The developers propose to connect a foul sewer to existing sewage infrastructure at nearby Kerlogue in the vicinity of a Protected Structure.

Lidl Ireland describes itself on the application form as “prospective purchasers of the land”.

The planning authority is currently considering the Lidl application and the closing date for the receipt of objections and observations on the proposal was last Friday.

David Bowe of Rocklands Service Station on the Rosslare Road lodged an objection, saying that the proposed site is outside the designated speed limit of Wexford town and clearly not within walking distance of the retail core of Wexford town and it therefore constitutes an “out of town location” as defined by the retail planning guidelines.

“The proposed development will have an unacceptable impact on existing retailers located in Wexford town centre and the vitality and viability of same.”

In the objection which was submitted on his behalf by Wexford planning and design consultant Ian Doyle, Mr Bowe claimed the proposed development is looking to exploit a location closer to the town’s ring road for ease of access rather than being situated in the town core in the interest of commercial advantage, and will will promote unsustainable transport patterns.

“The proposed development is clearly of a scale designed for a significantly larger catchment than that of the southern environs of Wexford”, he submitted, pointing out that a retail impact assessment which accompanies the application is “fundamentally flawed” in that the test focuses on the southern environs of the town only.

“The proposed development is not of a neighbourhood scale to cater for the surrounding residential area only. The applicant describes the immediate area around the site as ‘en emerging residential area’ and while this may be the case, existing levels of residential development do not exist to justify the site’s edge of town location.”

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Gilford Community Forum supports £2m filling station and store proposed for derelict site

Linda Stewart — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:18:03 +0000

A £2m proposal to revive a derelict petrol station and convenience retail site in Gilford has been welcomed by Gilford Community Forum.

The proposal by Northern Ireland’s Henderson Group which has a presence across Northern Ireland is to build a new EUROSPAR food shop and fuel forecourt combination, creating up to 20 jobs.

There is wide support for the application, according to Matt Crozier, chairperson of Gilford Community Forum which represents the town’s 1,950 population. He said the proposal is welcomed by his members.

“I have discussed this application with people across Gilford and can genuinely say I have come across no opposition to it,” he said.

“This will be beneficial to young people and older residents, both of whom have a lesser ability to travel to retail units in neighbouring areas such as Portadown, Lurgan, Banbridge and Tandragee.

“For people living outside of Gilford who pass through regularly, the parking space available will make it more like they will stop and buy what’s available in the shop, bringing in much needed revenue. On top of these benefits, the development will increase employment opportunities locally and improve the appearance of the village”

Henderson Group Property Director Mark Adrain says the new unit would bring many advantages to Gilford.

“The town has been losing shoppers to neighbouring Banbridge, Lurgan and Portadown and we at Henderson Group know from experience of operating these EUROSPAR sites in small towns and villages that they not only stem the outward flow of spend but enhance the attractiveness of their immediate area,” says Mr Adrain.

“We are confident the benefits of a EUROSPAR in Gilford with its supply chain, job opportunities and construction phase will inject new vigour into the town’s retail offer.”

An economic impact assessment of the proposed modern convenience shopping facility in Gilford underlines the company’s intention to generate the majority of the construction jobs locally through the appointment of a local contractor, the majority of whose employees live in the Lurgan/Banbridge area surrounding Gilford.

“We estimate that between 75% and 100% of the jobs of the construction phase will remain within the ABC Council area,” said Mr Adrain.

The proposal was originally recommended for approval in March 2018 and February 2019 by ABC’s Planning Office. But the Planning Office subsequently recommended refusal in January 2021.

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