The issue of whether German discounters should be allowed to trade out of retail parks has surfaced again, this time in Navan where An Bord Pleanála has blocked a plan by Lidl to open a store in a newly completed park on the outskirts of the town.
The decision will be a major blow to the park which is struggling to assemble a line-up of tenants. With some planning authorities in favour of German discounters and fashion outlets in retail parks, and the appeals board failing to maintain a consistent line on these issues, developers are frustrated by the lack of clarity.
In the case of the Navan Retail Park, the board cited the retail planning guidelines set down by the Department of the Environment in 2005, cautioning against out-of-town retailing of goods other than bulky goods. The Navan town development plan also favoured retail development within the town centre.
An interesting projection by the board’s inspector in this case was that Lidl would have a turnover of €9 million by 2012 out of “an estimated catchment surplus expenditure capacity” of €29.8 million. What gobbledegook!
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label navan planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label navan planning. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Town size grows at the stroke of a pen
ONE of the country's fastest growing towns officially got bigger yesterday, with its population increasing almost six-fold at the stroke of a pen.
Environment Minister John Gormley has approved the extension of Navan Town Council's boundary, which saw its population increase from 4,400 to 24,000.
Navan has seen a significant increase in its population over recent decades, with most residents now living outside the town boundary.
The application from the town council, which was also supported by Meath County Council, stated that the extension was logical given that the residents of the extended area identified strongly with the town. A boundary alteration will entitle residents to vote in the forthcoming town council elections, which will be held in June 2009.
"I very much welcome the opportunity to support the development of Navan and to extend the franchise for town council elections to so many residents," Mr Gormley said.
According to local sources, the influx of new voters increases the likelihood that Fianna Fail will lose its working majority on the town council.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Environment Minister John Gormley has approved the extension of Navan Town Council's boundary, which saw its population increase from 4,400 to 24,000.
Navan has seen a significant increase in its population over recent decades, with most residents now living outside the town boundary.
The application from the town council, which was also supported by Meath County Council, stated that the extension was logical given that the residents of the extended area identified strongly with the town. A boundary alteration will entitle residents to vote in the forthcoming town council elections, which will be held in June 2009.
"I very much welcome the opportunity to support the development of Navan and to extend the franchise for town council elections to so many residents," Mr Gormley said.
According to local sources, the influx of new voters increases the likelihood that Fianna Fail will lose its working majority on the town council.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
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