A third Lidl is coming to Laois after an application for planning permission was recently granted by the local Planning Authorities.
The application is for a location in Graiguecullen, meaning Carlow County Council have also been involved in the planning process.
The development will see Lidl construct their trademark discount supermarket and off-licence on the Killeshin / Castlecomer Road in the town
Approval for the project means confirmation of the demolition and site clearance of the existing National Learning Network Centre / Rehabcare building.
In its place, Lidl are to build a 2,305 square-metre, two-storey supermarket with mono-pitch and a net retail sales area of approximately 1,500 square metres.
The supermarket has faced strong opposition, with St Fiacc’s House saying they “strongly object” to the development due to its “adverse effect on St Fiacc’s House” as well as its “negative impact on the neighbouring residential amenity.”
St Fiacc’s, who provide residential care and meals on wheels in Graiguecullen, has 11 of their 17 residential bedrooms directly face the Lidl site, with the two sites also sharing a boundary.
Noise levels and lighting impact were sited by St Fiacc’s, who said “this development will have a huge negative impact on our residents,” adding that they had recently spent €50,000 on the development of an adjacent picnic area and garden
Fr John Dunphy and the Graiguecullen/Killeshin Parish also raised concerns regarding the impact on St Fiacc’s House, as well as concerns regarding the close proximity to St Fiacc’s Ns.
“s. Many children walk to school and this development will serve as an added danger considering the increase in congestion of cars and trucks on their route,” they said.
Nevertheless, the new Supermarket will include car and cycle parking facilities with site access from the Killeshin / Castlecomer Road.
Provision is also in place for signage, trolley bays, refrigeration and air conditioning plant, hard and soft landscaping, public lighting, electric vehicle charging points, roof-mounted solar panels, an ESB substation, and all associated infrastructure .
The news comes just weeks after Lidl (trading as Lidl Ireland GmbH) began the planning process for a supermarket to be constructed in Mountmellick.
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