Dealz refused planning permission
A question mark hangs over the future of 24 full-time jobs at Dealz in Clonard after Wexford County Council refused planning permission for change of use from retail warehousing to a shop.
Director of Services Tony Larkin told a Borough District Council meeting that the planning application was refused last week.
Poundland trading as Dealz was forced to apply for retention after the Council’s planning enforcement department ordered it to cease the unauthorised sale of non-bulky goods.
Wexford Retail Park in Clonard Little is zoned for the sale of bulky household items in the following categories - furni- ture, carpets, white goods, DIY material and garden products’.
Cllr. Deirdre Wadding accepted Dealz are in contravention of the bulky goods restriction but said they are not the only ones in that position in the retail park and there seems to be a difference in approach to different businesses.
‘My primary concern is the jobs of the people there,’ said Cllr. Wadding, warning that the outlet may have to close down and pull out of the retail park. There are 24 full-time employees and also seasonal staff in Dealz. But the same issue could apply to other outlets up there so other jobs could be at risk as well,’ she said.
Cllr. Wadding said the manager had informed her that it is a very busy store. ‘I think there is an issue here in relation to jobs. The workers are very concerned. I don’t know what action is going to be taken,’ she said.
In a submission to County Council planners on behalf of Dealz, planning consultant Ian Doyle said the company has been trading in the county since 2012 and currently operates four stores in County Wexford with plans for a fifth in New Ross. It has been in the Wexford retail park since 2015 after moving into a unit that had been vacant for a number of years, and is reportedly trading well.
The company employs 117 staff in Wexford who are paid in the region of €1.5 million which goes back into the local economy annually, according to Mr. Doyle who said Dealz has invested €1.2 million in capital projects in the county including almost €500,000 refurbishing a historic building on Wexford’s Main Street.
‘ They are committed to trading on Wexford’s Main Street for the long term and currently pay €63,000 in rates annually to Wexford County Council, a figure which will increase following the opening of a fifth store,’ he said.
Mr. Doyle said consideration should be given to re-designating Wexford Retail Park as a Neighbourhood Centre thereby legitimising current unauthorised uses and encouraging 100% occupancy.
‘It is surrounded by residential development with over 500 dwellings within a five minute driving catchment and has an Aldi foodstore as the anchor tenant which draws people into the retail park for weekly food shopping.
The consultant argued that granting retention would not result in a significant increase in the amount of retail floorspace and would not have a signficant effect on the viability of the town’s retail core.
‘Indeed the applicant has a store on Wexford’s Main Street and has no intention of ceasing trading. Both stores are viable at both locations.’
Mr. Doyle pointed out that Aldi was granted permission to operate a supermarket in the area by way of a material contravention of the development plan and this decision established a precedent for Dealz to be granted the same and for other uses not restricted to bulky goods to be considered within the retail park.
.While the Aldi store is appriximately three times the size of the development proposed for retention, the goods on offer are generally of a similar nature,’ he submitted.
Mr. Doyle said that of the nine retailers located in the park, only three are in full accordance with the condition that ‘ the use of the floorspace in the entirety of these units shall be restricted exclusively to the storage and selling of bulky household goods’.
He said Wexford Retail Park is essentially functioning as a Neighbourhood Centre in an established and growing area of population with Aldi as an anchor tenant and it is entirely predictable for other similar retailers to want to locate within the same area.
He added that the neighbourhood centre located within Clonard Village opposite the site is ‘not fit for purpose’ and is evolving into an office complex with no retail provision.
The manager of Dealz was contacted for a response to the planning refusal but said the company is not commenting publicly on the matter at this time.
It has four weeks from the decision date to appeal to An Bord Pleanála.