Lidl return with new plans to develop its Bellefield store

DESPITE having been controversially refused planning permission following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála in 2016, German supermarket giants Lidl have returned with new plans to completely revamp their store at Bellefield in Enniscorthy.

Ambitious plans to develop a larger two-storey Lidl concept store in Enniscorthy were blocked in 2016, following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála by the Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA). The appeal was successful despite the fact that the Bord’s own inspector recommended that permission be granted.

Now, however, it appeals like the supermarket chain are back with a new plan as last week a planning notice appeared seeking permission to demolish the current Enniscorthy store and, in its place, build a bigger single-storey supermarket, complete with a mezzanine plant deck. While the current store measures 1,637 square metres of gross floor space, the new build would see this figure increase to 2,268 square metres.

Lidl are also seeking to redevelop and extend the current site with provisions for further parking spaces, signage, trolley bays, public lighting, soft landscaping and solar panels. They are also seeking the provision of ‘a new access road and footpath from existing Lidl and Aldi access road to the existing County Wexford Community Workshop Centre to the rear of the Lidl site.’

The application will once again go before the Planning Department at Wexford County Council, who incidentally approved Lidl’s last application to develop the store. The supermarket chain will be hoping they are more successful in moving forward with their plans this time around.