Claim that ‘anchor supermarket development would boost town economy by €50 million'

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN THE supermarket, retail and drive-thru restaurant development proposed for Tuam's outskirts is worth €50 million to the local economy. That's according to the man behind the project, Pat Donoghue, who argues that it will result in 215 construction jobs over an 18-month period, if it is allowed to go ahead. [private] The developer, who has to wait until early in the New Year for An Bord Pleanála's decision on his proposed multi-million euro retail development, believes hundreds of jobs will also be created if the plan is successful. Galway Co Council granted permission for an anchor supermarket, three warehouse retail units and a drive-thru restaurant on the Milltown Road site in August but this was appealed by the independent retailers' representative group RGDATA as well as a resident of Lissadyra in Tuam. In his subsequent submission to the Board, Pat Donoghue says the development will bring 105 full-time jobs as well as another 115 spin-off jobs in local businesses and support. 'This will significantly enhance Tuam as an area for business and will help generate inward and outward growth,' said the submission. Responding to points raised in both appeals, Mr Donoghue rejected the claim that Tuam doesn't need another supermarket. He says studies have shown that the town has a problem attracting business because of it's lacking in retail services. His submission also hits out at RGDATA, stating that the agents used by the group were also the agents used for the planning applications submitted by Joe O'Toole and Padraig Glynn. 'We feel they are prejudiced in relation to offering a balanced argument on behalf of RGDATA,' states the submission. He also questions why RGDATA didn't object to the Milltown Road development when a much larger version was proposed in 2009 and he is mystified by the organisation's turnaround. RGDATA argue that the applicant, despite changing the proposal, hasn't addressed the reasons for the supermarket's refusal. The group is adamant that the large supermarket will adversely impact on existing trade in the town centre and goes against planning and retail guidelines. RGDATA says the already permitted retail developments within the town centre - O'Toole's and Glynn's - will contribute towards the enhancement of the commercial core of the town whereas the Blackacre supermarket will only suit the needs of the anchor tenant. However Mr Donoghue's submission points out that planning for the other two supermarkets in the town has been granted for some time yet neither has progressed to construction. 'If you took RGDATA's view that nothing else was to progress until the other two sites were developed then it would render Tuam into commercial oblivion,' stated the submission. He reiterated that should planning permission be granted for the Milltown Road site, development works would start immediately. Permission is sought for a 4,300 sq m anchor retail unit, three retail warehouses of varying sizes, the largest being 2,300 sq m, and a drive-thru restaurant. The plans include the provision of 360 car parking spaces, 250 of which would be underground. It would be accessed off a new roundabout to be built on the N17 close to Town & Country garage. This is the third time that the project, of varying designs, has gone before the Planning Appeals Board for consideration. Their decision won't be known until the end of January at the earliest. [/private]