Planning permission for expansion of Lidl store in Mayo is refused as it would ‘harm the character of the street’
Planning permission seeking to extend the Lidl store at Bohernasup, Ballina has been refused by Mayo County Council.
The application sought permission to demolish a nearby dwelling and incorporate the cleared site into the existing Lidl premises in order to extend the store’s car park.
The proposal would have resulted in an additional 38 parking spaces, bringing the total number onsite to 113.
Mayo County Council planners refused the application on four conditions. One key issue was the proposed demolition of a habitable dwelling with front and rear gardens, which is located on a well-established residential street.
Planners agreed that demolishing the house would create a visual gap in a continuous line of residential properties, harming the character of the street and going against the principles of proper planning and sustainable development.
The refusal also noted that the land Lidl proposed to expand into is zoned “Existing Residential” under the Ballina Local Area Plan 2024-2030, making it unsuitable for commercial development.
Planners said the proposal would have a negative impact on existing homes and could reduce property values in the area.
The decision to refuse also noted that Lidl currently has 75 parking spaces, a number previously deemed sufficient by the applicant, Mayo County Council and An Bord Pleanála under an earlier planning permission.
The council concluded that additional parking was not needed and that expanding the site for this reason would be an unjustified intrusion into a quiet, residential area, increasing traffic and affecting nearby homes.
A further reason for refusal related to the proposed lighting. Under the original planning permission for the Lidl store, granted by Ballina Town Council in 2015, a condition limited the height of street lighting to four metres.
The refused application proposed lighting poles up to eight metres high, which planners said would be visually intrusive, cause light spill into nearby homes, and further affect residential amenity.
Planners acknowledged that the existing Lidl store is generally seen as a welcome addition to the streetscape and fits well within its residential surroundings.
However, they said the proposed car park extension would widen the gap in the streetscape and affect the balance between residential and commercial development in the area.
Lidl Ireland GmbH has four weeks to appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála if it chooses to do so.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.