‘Negotiations’ ongoing with local authority for Tesco site

LATEST Plans lodged with Cavan County Council

- Michelle Taite -

Tesco Ireland remains in “advanced negotiations” regarding the purchase of a site in Cavan Town for its proposed new superstore, despite planning permission first granted more than a decade ago.

The supermarket giant has lodged a fresh planning application for a replacement store at the 3.86 hectare Cockhill site overlooking Cavan Town.

The site is still under council ownership.

A spokesperson for Cavan County Council confirmed the discussions last week, stating: “Advanced negotiations are underway with Tesco regarding sale of the site and, while discussions are progressing well, no agreement has been finalised.”

There were strong objections to the original plans submitted by Tesco over 10 years ago. Many businesses, in particular retailers in the county town, organised a petition opposing it. They felt the proposed store turned its back on the town and would take away footfall from the core town centre retail area.

But more than a decade on, business owners in Cavan Town have softened their stance. Several were approached for comment following Tesco’s latest announcement, with the majority reserving their opinion until they can review the new plans in further detail.

John Smith of Smith’s shoe shop on Main Street agrees the current Tesco stores in the town centre have “outlived” their day.

“With the slant on the carpark there [Townparks], I wouldn’t say Tesco is as busy as it should be,” he surmised.

The popular shop owner said: “If the design is right, I’d have no problem with them building a supermarket up there and I think once the Main Street is kept alive.

“Sometimes they maintain a presence on the Main Street with a Tesco Express with the essentials, bread and milk, you know? And the front of [the current store] would be ideal.”

John is concerned about the impact of any potential closure of the current drapery store on Main Street in particular.

“It's a shutter down and it doesn’t look great, but the Main Street cannot be allowed to be shuttered up. When you start one closing up, it degenerates the look of the town. That’s my only concern,” he remarked.

In respect of Tesco’s existing stores in the town, a company spokesperson told the Celt last month: “It’s our intention that this space will be sold to a suitable alternative retailer and continue to add interest to the Main Street. We propose to dispose of this unit to a user that is suitable for the existing planning and use of the building. We will not hold this as a vacant site on our portfolio. It would be inappropriate to comment any further, as these are commercially sensitive negotiations.”

Tesco also said, subject to planning approval, the new development will see a modern, sustainable, and accessible new store extending to 35,000 sq ft, 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.

“Our existing store operates from a building, which is over 50 years old, so moving to a replacement store will result in a much-improved work environment for colleagues and shopping experience for our customers,” stated the supermarket’s spokesperson.

They emphasised Tesco's ongoing commitment to the Cavan, insisting the county town remains a “key part” of their overall store footprint.

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

Special Contributions

The terms of the previous planning permission, granted in 2013, stipulated that Tesco pay €1.5m in development levies to Cavan Town Council - a large chunk of that was earmarked towards the cost of the Cavan eastern access road, which has since been completed.

As that planning permission was never acted on, those conditions are now null and void, the spokesperson for Cavan County Council clarified last week.

“As no commencement of this planning permission took place, the conditions were not activated, and no special contribution was therefore due to the local authority,” he said.

“Any proposed sale of council lands will be independent of any previous conditions or agreements in respect of that site,” added the spokesperson.

Third party submissions can be made to the Cavan County Council planning department on the latest Tesco plans until February 19, with a decision due March 12, providing no further information is required.