Green light for Lidl store in Dunboyne

Plans for a Lidl supermarket in the centre of Dunboyne village have been given the green light by An Bord Pleanala.

The planning authority this week upheld Meath County Council's decision to grant planning permission for the development paving the way for the German retailer to proceed with its plans for a supermarket on a site beside St Peter and Pauls Church in the village.

The hugely controversial planning application had prompted a number of public meetings and drew 262 objections mainly concerned with the changes proposed to the Main Street area including the loss of parking and the installation of a set of traffic lights.

In January last year, Meath County Council granted permission to Lidl to build a single storey discount foodstore with a gross floor area of 2,220sqm and net sales area of 1,409sqm with an ancillary off licence area together with parking for 119 cars. This decision was subsequently appealed to an Bord Pleanala.

A cafe retail unit of 165sqm adjacent to a proposed plaza area is planned for the existing car park to the west of the church. The entrance to the development will be approximately in the same location as the existing entrance to the car park.

The previously church-owned site was sold to Lidl by St Finian's Diocesan Trust and the planning application included a car park with 53 spaces to serve St Peter and Paul's Church which would be connected to the grounds of the church.

Traffic management changes form part of the proposal and include a right turning lane on Main Street, a reduction in car parking spaces on the north side of the green and the removal of parking spaces on the east side.

The plans include a four-arm staggered signalised junction with controlled pedestrian crossings at Main Street to the south east of the green and the removal of parking spaces and kerb build outs to facilitate improved public realm space and achieve required forward visibility of the traffic signals and crossing points.