Tesco Superstore appealed

Tesco Ireland is appealing its own planning permission for a multi-million euro superstore for Cavan Town.

The retailer, specifically, is unhappy with one of the conditions stipulated in the planning granted by Cavan County Council.

“Tesco are appealing one of the conditions that Cavan County Council applied in relation to financial contribution,” a spokesperson for An Bord Pleanála told the Celt this week.

Specifically, Tesco is appealing the payment of €1.5 million as per a “special contribution” towards the cost of developing the Cavan Town Eastern Access Route.

It’s understood that Tesco believe the contribution applicable should be less than a tenth of that sought by the local authority.

A Tesco Ireland spokesperson said: “We are committed to continued engagement with the local authority and the Appeals Board in relation to all stages of the planning process.”

The appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanála after planning permission was granted by the council in late October.

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.

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 in special contribution, as well as €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.

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.

Other elements include 297 car parking spaces, 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.