Planning granted to Lidl for new wellness hub in vacant Tipperary building
Tipperary County Council has approved Lidl’s plans to turn a vacant Queen Street building in Clonmel into a wellness centre and gym.
The Tipperary premises was the “only remaining empty building” at a new development in Clonmel, and has now been given the green light for the change of use.
Lidl Ireland GmbH had applied to the local authority for a change of use for one of their buildings at their new Queen Street development in Clonmel, due to the inability to attract retail and office tenants.
The German retailer had applied to the council for permission to change the use of a part of their development – known as building C – from retail to wellness centre and gym.
The ground floor would be used on an appointment basis for client treatments, and includes the consumption of food and beverages on and off the premises, while the first floor would be changed from office use to leisure/gym use.
Building C remains the “only empty building in the Lidl development” on Queen Street, planning files state.
The other two buildings on the site are currently in use as a Lidl store and a restaurant/café.
Agents for Lidl said that the change of use would be in contravention of the planning conditions imposed by Tipperary County Council, but that it was necessary due to their difficulties in securing a tenant for the building.
“It has not been possible to secure a retailer or office user for the ground and first floors respectively. Lidl has had two inquiries which it is pursuing now and needs the change of use to secure the end users,” planning files said.
The building has been empty for around 18 months since its construction, planners noted.
Now, Tipperary County Council has granted permission for the change of use to go ahead, subject to four conditions.
The conditions include that before the building is occupied, the applicant submit details of the end user with the local authority, and placed limitations on the hours that the site can operate.
The wellness facility can operate from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 6pm on weekends and bank holidays, while the gym will be allowed to operate from 6am to 9pm during the week, and 9am to 12pm on weekends and bank holidays.