Decision on Aldi store in Graig is postponed

AN Bord Pleanala has postponed its decision on an appeal trying to prevent Aldi from building a supermarket in Graiguenamaanagh.

The discount supermarket had been granted planning permission by Kilkenny County Council in February to build a single storey supermarket including off licence with a gross floor area of 1,608 square metres on the former Cullen Steel site.

The development was to consist of the demolition of the existing buildings currently located on site, associated signage, landscaping and upgrade works to the existing bridge and all ancillary site development works.

There was also to be 95 car parking spaces and access to the supermarket will be from Upper Main Street.

A decision on the application had been delayed after Kilkenny County Council requested further information from the German chain about the development and this, in turn, took several months to compile.

In mid February the development was given the green light by the council subject to 29 planning conditions.

However the decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by the Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA) and Michael Doran, owner of the local Super Valu.

An Bord Pleanala initially indicated a decision on the appeal would be made by July 13. However this was postponed and a decision is now not expected until September 7.