Dunnes Stores acquire major site in Tullamore

DUNNES Stores has acquired a major site on Church Road in Tullamore. The former Coen lands opposite Lidl already has permission for a retail development with shopping centre, residential units, cinema and restaurants.

Planning approval for the massive project was granted to Flanagan Securities in 2020. But the land, which is a 'key site' in the Tullamore regeneration plan has now changed hands.

Normally planning permission lasts around 5 years and work must be completed within that time frame.

Dunnes Stores are not commenting on what they propose to do with the site but in recent years they have been expanding their footprint in other parts of the country with more designer brands being added in their fashion department.

However, the giant retailer received a set-back in July when the company was refused planning permission to expand one of its stores on the outskirts of Limerick City over fears about the possible impact of the development on the city centre.

Dunnes still holds the retail market share in groceries in Ireland. They have two stores in Tullamore, one in the Church Road Shopping Centre and the other in the Bridge Centre.There are 119 stores in the republic, 15 in Northern Ireland and 4 in Spain.

Meanwhile, McDonalds, who operate a drive through restaurant adjacent to Dunnes Stores was given permission in April to carry out changes to its premises.

This includes internal alterations to the kitchen and dining area, new fire doors, new freezer/chiller area with an extension to provide a new dry store within the existing corral. The plans also include improvements to the drive-thru lane, a new dual ordering configuration with devices and bollards. Outdoor furniture and seating area with additional bicycle parking will also get a facelift. Work appears to have started on this particular project.

For now the Church Road acquisition by Dunnes Stores could spark fresh development at this key site.

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With existing planning permission already in place and the location earmarked as central to Tullamore's regeneration, the coming months could reveal whether the retailer intends to push ahead with the original vision, scale it back or reimagine it entirely. Whatever the outcome, the move signals a significant stake in the town's commercial future.