Appeal lodged over approved plans for supermarket, pharmacy and cafe in Tullamore

AN appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala in relation to a proposed supermarket, pharmacy, cafe and associated retail unit at Collins Lane in Tullamore.

Cedarglade Limited was granted permission to construct the development in November this year, but the company has now lodged an appeal. At the time of writing details of the appeal had yet to be published

Offaly County Council attached a number of conditions when granting permission, among them was that prior to any construction on the proposed retail units, footpaths, and cycleways should be constructed along Collins Lane. In addition an amended plan for a roundabout and associated junctions should also be completed. The reason given was the proximity of the primary school Educate Together and the location of the development in a residential area.

Offaly County Council said the impacts of the proposed construction traffic and operational traffic requires new road infrastructure to allow for safe traffic movements by pedestrians and cyclists. No construction vehicles will be permitted to park on the public road during construction works. No loading or unloading will be permitted either. Any damage to roads, footpaths, or other public property caused by the development should be made good to the satisfaction of the District Engineer.

A new link road via the roundabout to the north west of the site will also be developed along with pedestrian connections from Collins Lane.

The development will incorporate 135 surface car parking spaces which includes 104 standard spaces, and 8 accessible spaces, 7 parent and child spaces, 14 EV charging spaces and 2 click and collect spaces. There will be 26 bicycle parking spaces including provision for 2 cargo bicycle spaces; Landscaping will also form part of the plan.

The application attracted two submissions. The HSE advised that all necessary precautions should be taken to control dust and rodents arising from the building work so as not to present a nuisance to occupiers of adjoining properties.

Grapemont, headed up by local businessman Tony Flanagan welcomed the development for Tullamore provided, ''only if it is of a scale which supports the small, localised catchment in the vicinity of Collins Lane neighbourhood in accordance with policy such that it would not impact the vitality and viability of the town centre towards which retail development of a scale larger than 'neighbourhood' should be directed.'