Dealz apply again for planning at its Clonard store
Dealz has once again submitted a planning application to Wexford County Council for retention of change of use in relation to its store at Wexford Retail Park in Clonard.
Ian Doyle on behalf of Poundland Ltd, the owner of Dealz, has submitted a planning application to the council for temporary permission for change of use of the 488 sq me store from retail warehousing to shop specialist retail, internal alteration consisting of the erection of internal walls, retention of signage and all associated site works at Unit 5, Wexford Retail Park.
The discount chain store is at odds with planning regulations as outlets selling ‘non-bulky’ goods are prohibited from operating at the retail park which also houses Petmania, Aldi, Woodies, Mr Price and Home Focus at Hickeys.
In September 2016 the planning department of Wexford County Council issued a warning letter to Poundland over an alleged breach of planning at their Clonard Dealz store.
It pointed out that one of the conditions attached to the original planning permission for the retail park had been that the use of the floor space in all of the units would be restricted exclusively to the storage and selling of bulky household goods in the following categories - furniture, carpets, white goods, DIY materials and garden products. In a letter to the council Mr Doyle said Dealz has been trading in Clonard Retail Park since August 2015 adding ‘the store trades well picking up link trip shoppers to both Aldi and Mr Price, in addition to the Wexford Markets and other retailers within the retail park.’ Mr Doyle said no significant changes will be made to the outside of the building should permission be granted.
In the letter he referred to the ongoing enforcement by Wexford County Council in respect of the Clonard store where an order had been made ‘to cease the ongoing sale of non-bulky goods’.
He said the reason for this application is to ‘regularise the sale of non bulky goods from the premises on a temporary basis’. Mr Doyle said that currently the ‘strict application of the bulky goods only (as suggested by the development plan policy) restriction would result in every retailer in Wexford Retail Park reducing its offering significantly including those who ordinarily fall within the definition of bulky goods’. He said that Dealz consider Wexford to be a two store town in terms of demand saying both stores are trading equally well. He said the Wexford Retail Store had only a minimal impact on the town centre store when it opened.
This, he said, is because both areas serve different catchment areas and are capable of supporting the stores independently of each other.
‘To suggest that locating a store in Wexford Retail Park is impacting adversely on the vitality and viability of town core is unfounded and simply not the case.’
He went on to say that the ‘high vacancy rate within retail parks suggest an over-provision of retail warehousing units’. Mr Doyle said the reason behind the temporary permission is ‘to afford the planning authority the opportunity to review policies in relation to the retail park and surrounding neighbourhood centre zoned lands. There is clearly demand for additional convenience and comparison type retailing while there is little or no demand for retail warehousing.’
He said that Dealz is seeking a minimum seven year temporary permission to continue trading in Clonard.
He went on to say that the retention of the store on a temporary basis will not have a significant impact on the character or the area nor will it impact on the town centre core. He concluded by saying that the temporary permission would not contravene the retail policy set out in the Wexford Town and Environs or County Development Plan.