Appeals Board gives green light to Tuam Aldi store
AN Bord Pleanala has given the green light to plans by Aldi to build its first ever supermarket in Tuam.
Aldi sought permission to build a 1,325 sqm store and 97 car parking spaces on a large section of the Glynn’s storage yard on Ballygaddy road. The supermarket chain says the new store will create 20 new jobs for the area and aims to have it completed by 2022.
RGDATA, the representative association for independent and family-owned grocery outlets in Ireland, had called for the grant planning permission for the development to be overturned.
In its appeal RGDATA argued that the site is outside of the primary retail area of the town and should be treated in terms of planning guidelines as an edge of centre site. The association also described the proposed building as having a “monotonous low-profile design” especially as it faces the Ballygaddy Road and the River Nanny.
At the end of last year Aldi were granted permission for the large supermarket and café on part of the large Glynn’s Homevalue and Hardware site by Galway County Council. The decision followed a lengthy further information request by County Council planners who had initially raised several serious concerns about the proposal.
This resulted in Aldi overhauling the design of the development. The location of the supermarket was moved, and it’s intended to have the building adjoining the Ballygaddy Road and N17 boundaries of the site. A café with exterior terrace is also a new addition to the plan.
The warehouse on the Glynn’s site would be removed to make way for the new development however, the existing Homevalue Hardware store won’t be affected and will continue to operate as normal.
Local Galway East TD Sean Canney has welcomed An Bord Pleanala’s decision, saying the development will benefit Tuam.
“It is excellent that Aldi are to locate in the centre of the town as part of Glynn’s Hardware store site. The site is adjacent to the existing shopping centre and multi storey carpark.
“The store will greatly improve the footfall of shoppers in Tuam and will have a positive effect on all the local shops, boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants in the town,” said Deputy Canney.