A major supermarket brand has been given the go-ahead to build a state-of-the-art store in the edge of a Co Galway town.
The German discount supermarket applied to Galway County Council to build the new shop at Gallows Hill, Cosmona, Loughrea, Co. Galway in May 2024. The current nearest Lidl store is in Gort, while Loughrea already has an Aldi at the town’s shopping centre.
Lidl applied to GCC to build a single-storey, discount food store with an off-licence on the premises. A dozen submissions of objections were made from locals worried over a number of potential issues, including concerns traffic management and that the location outside the town centre would reduce foot traffic for business in the traditional commercial zone.
Galway County Council granted permission on 9 January 2024, but attached 26 conditions. These include that at least 20% of car parking space come equipped with EV charging stations, work hours during construction are limited to 7am till 7pm on weekdays, 8am to 2pm on Saturdays, and for no work to take place on Sundays.
An independent road safety audit was also ordered prior to commencement of works, and the build will have to adhere to strict guidelines laid out in the Natura Impact Statement submitted with the proposal in May 2024.
All internal roads, cycleways and pedestrians pathways must also adhere to the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets including compliance to the provisions of National Transport Authority Cycle Design Manual.
The plans as approved conditionally also include a ground-level car park which includes electric vehicle charging spaces as well as wiring to install future charging points. the plans also include bike stands as well as extensive landscaping works and a trolley bay canopy.
A new vehicular access and egress for the new store will be built along the R350 should be build be approved. The new entrance would require works to the existing stone wall along the road as well as a new footpath and cycle path.
The application was accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement, which highlighted that the proposed development “will not have a significant effect on any European sites.” The NIS expressed their confidence that “appropriate employable mitigation measures would be put in place to avoid, reduce or ameliorate negative impacts”.
A protected structure sits on the site. St. Joseph’s Monastery was consecrated in 1833 and its rendered facade is known for its Ionic door casing. Decorative plasterwork in the chapel ceiling dates from the original build, but the chapel itself was refurbished extensively in 1981.
St. Joseph’s Monastery was added to the register of protected structures in 2002 for its regional value attained by its age and “special architectural quality as exampled by the doorcases and chapel plasterwork.”
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