Mixed-use development proposed for Kells 'Frontlands'

Major plans for a retail development in the centre of Kells, which will form the first phase of the Frontlands development, have been resubmitted to Meath County Council.

Royal Drive Developments lodged a similar proposal for the lands in 2023 which went to further information but were subsequently withdrawn pending completion of further reports with a view to being resubmitted at a later stage.

Now the applicant has come back with a new planning application for a phased mixed-use commercial development on the lands which will include a large supermarket expected to be occupied by one of the major multiples. It also includes additional town centre parking which is something Kells has been severely lacking as the town has grown.

The proposal includes a single storey retail unit of 3,667 square metres to include a licenced alcohol sales area. This is a large supermarket unit which is expected to be occupied by one of the major supermarket retailers.

The second block is a double height unit of 1,366 square metres, comprising a new post office and a bulky good retail unit.

The third block will consist of two retail units, while block four is a two-storey unit with three retail units at ground floor level with three office units above.

The plans also include alterations to the facade of the existing post office unit including the creation of an enlarged pedestrian archway with associated alterations at roof level and demolition of structures to the rear to provide for a café unit and office space.

A pedestrian link from Bective Street through the enlarged archway is also proposed, while 58 car parking spaces and 52 cycle parking spaces also form part of the proposal.

The plans also include the first section of the new distributor road including alterations to the Bective Street and Bective Road junction and an access road via the new distributor road.

The site, which extends to 4.1 hectares, consists of No 81 Bective Street (existing post office), and a greenfield site to the rear on a portion of the lands known as the ‘Frontlands’ west of Bective Street, and also includes the junction of Bective Street and Bective Road.

News that the planning application has been lodged has been welcomed by local councillor Sean Drew who pointed out that the town of Kells has grown over the past decade and now needs more retail to service the growing population.

"Kells has grown over the past decade, particularly in residential, and I think the town needs additional retail with it. It has been a long term plan of the council, since I first came on it in the early 2000s, that any new retail development would adjoin the existing town centre and this is very much the case with this proposal which has pedestrian links directly to the existing town centre. It is not creating a new town centre, it is an extension of the existing town centre."

He explained that the access road already has planning permission and will not only open up this phase of the Frontlands but would enable future development including for tourism and community use.

"If it does get permission and proceed it is seen as the first phase of the development of these lands," said Cllr Drew. The new road when fully completed in due course will eventually link with the Oldcastle Road.

Cllr Drew said it was important to him and the other councillors that it would not just be about retail and residential but also that there would be public amenity and there are plazas in the plan that look very attractive.

"Another welcome part of the proposal is the substantial amount of car parking spaces as the population of the town has increased, town centre parking has become an issue," he said.