Proposed Aldi for Johnstown blocked by Bord Pleanala
Plans for an Aldi supermarket on Metges Road in Johnstown, Navan, as well as 45 social and affordable apartments on an adjacent site, have been refused by An Bord Pleanala .
Meath County Council had previously granted planning permission to Byrnell Developments Ltd for a single storey retail food store of 1,840 sqm (1,315 sqm net retail), but the planning board has now overturned that decision.
An Bord Pleanala has also overturned a separate Meath County Council decision to grant planning permission for 45 social and affordable apartments in two blocks of four and five storeys made up of 36 one-bedroom apartments and nine two-bedroom apartments with PV panels.
In both cases, the board held that it could not be satisfied that the development "would not be likely to have an adverse effect on the River Boyne and River Blackwater Special Area of Conservation."
As the development of both sites would be reliant on works relating to both the management of surface water and flood risk management which are on third-party lands outside of the application site boundary, the Board said it could not be satisfied that the relevant works could be implemented in full.
The planning application for the supermarket included an ancillary off-licence sales area and external service area, illuminated signage and a car park for 89 cars at Metges Road. The site extends to 0.818 hectares and the supermarket was to be occupied by German retailer Aldi.
The planning application for social and affordable homes included car parking for 56 cars, a single vehicular access from the Metges Road and two pedestrian entrances, along with a communal garden open space area. The site is 0.46 hectares.
Cllr Alan Lawes said that while the local community would miss the opportunity of a retail supermarket there, they wouldn't miss the high rise apartments "on that lovely tree lined avenue".
"I know we are in a housing crisis, and I would love if it could have been used for social houses rather than apartments. I had thought a few social houses would have been the way to go, but if it is on a flood plain then maybe there shouldn't be anything there and we can enjoy the scenery and our lovely tree lined avenue."
A previous proposal by Hunt Capital for the same site prompted protests in 2019 by local residents who were opposed to plans for 104 apartments and 1,500sqm of commercial space .
As it was deemed a strategic housing development, at that time it went straight to Bord Pleanala for consideration who granted permission in October 2019.
The 1.23 acre site was later put up for sale and sold in a Bid X auction in 2022 for €1.11m.
Two new planning applications for the site were subsequently lodged by Byrnell Developments in December 2023 with Meath County Council seeking further information on the plans in February of last year which was submitted in October 2024. The council granted planning permission for both projects earlier this year, but this has now been overturned by An Bord Pleanala.