Tesco Superstore approved
The grocery shopping market in Cavan is set for a shake-up following a decision by Cavan County Council to give the green light for a new Tesco Superstore overlooking the county town. However, it’s likely to be years yet before the store opens, once construction time and the possibility of a potentially lengthy planning appeal are factored in.
Tesco Ireland lodged fresh plans with the local authority for the proposed store on a 3.86 hectare site at Cockhill back in January of this year.
Planners published their decision late last week but only after significant further information was submitted by the supermarket giant.
Planning permission has been granted for the 35,000 sq ft store with 34 conditions attached, including that Tesco pay Cavan County Council €1.5m as per a “special contribution” towards the cost of developing the Cavan Town Eastern Access Route.
Tesco must also pay €142,880 towards public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area, and €15,000 as security on the development bond “to ensure the satisfactory completion of the development”.
The remaining conditions relate to providing pedestrian links between the site and town, environmental and geographical measures, traffic management, lighting and signage.
Tesco first applied for planning at Townparks & Tullymongan Lower in July 2011, and extensions of time were subsequently granted in respect of the proposed development.
Speaking to the Celt yesterday (Tuesday), a spokesperson for Tesco Ireland welcomed the planning permission: “This multi-million euro investment will enhance the shopping experience for customers and colleagues.
The site at Cock Hill will deliver a modern, sustainable, and accessible new store built in Cavan Town centre, along with new carparking facilities including EV charging points, an ancillary café, the provision of click and collect services for customers, and include a grocery home shopping hub to serve the wider catchment of County Cavan.
“We’ve been proudly serving the shoppers of Cavan Town and its surrounding areas for many years and hope that this new replacement store will improve the shopping experience for colleagues and customers. We have engaged extensively with Cavan County Council to bring this project to this stage, and we are grateful for their support.”
The current planning permission is for a slightly larger retail space (c. 5,197 sq m) with a new drive thru café unit with external seating and five parking spaces (two electric, two disabled and one standard) and two set down bays.
Tesco also intend to include a new four-pump/eight-stand petrol filling station similar to that which exists at the Tesco store in Bailieborough. It will incorporate an automatic car wash/jet wash, a forecourt canopy and associated signage, oil interceptors, underground storage tanks and tanker fill point.
Home shopping delivery
Other elements include 297 car parking spaces, a reduction from the initial 471 sought, more cycle parking spaces (120), two dedicated ‘Click and Collect’ car spaces, a grocery home shopping delivery vehicle docking area, service yard, pedestrian linkages with the Town Centre including a sloped pedestrian walkway and steps on the western boundary of the site.
There were two submissions made by third parties, either of which may yet choose to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
Peter Sweetman made a submission on behalf of Wild Ireland Defence CLG; while Cian O’Donoghue lodged a submission in the name of Friends of Killymooney Lough. The latter claims that the environmental impact assessment report submitted with the plans is “inadequate”. The group cites further concerns over traffic and road safety and the potential visual impact of the development. They also highlight what they say is the ‘cosy quid pro quo’ between the local authority and the applicant in respect of the sale of the site.
As part of its further information request, Cavan County Council asked Tesco to review the design and layout of the proposed development.
Planners stated that the elevation facing onto the town core area should be revised to take account of the visual impact on the town.
They also sought revised drawings of the main entrance and south elevation to ‘address architectural merits of the overall design’.
The planning department has also said that plans should indicate the proximity of the new St Clare’s school building to the adjacent services on the Tesco site.
Shoppers welcome news
The Celt spoke to some Tesco shoppers yesterday morning to see how they felt about news of the proposed new superstore.
Nan: “I like Tesco. It’s the cheapest place to buy groceries in comparison to Dunnes or Supervalu or any of the rest of them. I’m not going to shop any place else other than in here on Tuesday’s and Fridays,” says Nan during her shop.
Kevin Cusack: “I think it’s great, I think it will be great for Cavan. Absolutely fantastic!”
Kevin believes a bigger store is “very much” needed. He also explains “more parking facilities without the hill” would be a great benefit to the town. “It would help immensely with the more mature people shopping. I have to push their trollies up because the hill in the carpark can be quite steep. I myself drive a bus and have to help my passengers to the bus with their shopping.”
Carmel Cassidy: “I think down here would suit me better. That’s the way I feel because I come from beside Ballyconnell. There’s ample parking here, which is great. I prefer it,” says Carmel, explaining she’ll be sad to see the current Tesco located on Main Street Cavan close.