Tesco to seek permission for new store in Cavan Town

Tesco Ireland has confirmed it intends to submit a planning application for a replacement store in Cavan Town.

The supermarket giant already had planning approval for a new store at Cockhill in the county town, first granted back in 2013. In 2020, Tesco secured an extension of time to complete the development but that permission is due to expire this year.

It's thought a completely fresh planning application is set to be lodged.

Tesco issued a statement this morning saying that, subject to planning approval, the scheme will see a modern, sustainable, and accessible new store built in Cavan Town Centre along with new car parking facilities, the provision of 'Click+Collect' services for customers, and include a Grocery Home Shopping Hub to serve the wider catchment of County Cavan.

Commenting, Geoff Byrne, Chief Operating Officer, Tesco Ireland said, “We are delighted to be ready to submit our Cavan Town planning application and subject to permission, this new replacement store will improve the shopping experience for colleagues and customers.

“Cavan Town remains a key part of our overall store footprint in County Cavan, and we are hopeful that our revised application demonstrates our commitment to Cavan Town Centre. We’re grateful to the colleagues, customers, and Cavan community for their patience with this long-awaited replacement store.“

Tesco employs more than 170 colleagues across two stores in Cavan (Cavan Town and Bailieborough).

In the seven years of our Community Fund, it has donated €85,000 to over 300 local projects around the county, 160 of which are located in Cavan Town. Tesco colleagues and customers in Cavan have also raised almost €75,000 for Tesco’s Charity Partner Children’s Health Foundation, including Temple Street, since 2014.

The existing planning permission for the site allows for the construction of a larger store than exists at its two Main Street outlets.

The previous planning permission relates to a 3.86 hectare site overlooking Cavan Town. The original plans a decade ago attracted significant opposition from local traders, who claimed the new store, in terms of its design and aspect, turned its back on the town and would take footfall away from the town centre.

Back Pacelli Lynch, proprietor of Eason Cavan and the former president of Cavan chamber, said the development would “kill the town centre”.

It was previously reported that, once the new superstore was open, the Main Street development would amalgamate the existing Tesco stores to facilitate a comparison department store, a cafe unit and site services.

Penneys was previously mooted as a potential tenant for the renovated store.