Refused Lidl store could have created up to 25 new jobs in Waterford
A new Lidl supermarket has been refused planning permission in Waterford.
The construction of a new Lidl supermarket was refused permission to commence at Carrickphierish Road, Gracedieu, in Waterford City this week.
The site is located in the emerging Carrickphierish Neighbourhood Centre, opposite the existing school and library campus.
Plans included the construction of a part single-storey and part two-storey discount foodstore with an off-licence.
Construction of an access road from Carrickphierish Road, serving the proposed development and to facilitate the future development of adjoining lands, was also planned, as was a car parking area.
Planning documents submitted in July 2024 outlined that it was estimated the proposed Lidl store would have provided up to 25 direct full-time jobs, generating in the order of €1 million per annum locally in wages, in addition to further jobs created and construction stage employment in excess of €1.5 million in construction wages alone.
Nick Collins, Managing Director of Kingscroft Developments ,Limited submitted an appeal to the project, which outlined that the proposed development constituted a “material contravention” of the County Development Plan and should be refused by the planning authority.
The appeal states that the development "fails to respond appropriately to the objectives of the Carrickphierish Neighbourhood Centre" and that the gable end of the store provides an insufficient frontage to the street edge and is set back from the road.
"This is unlikely to achieve the ‘exceptional standard’ required by the Neighbourhood Centre Objectives," the appeal said.
In refusing permission for the development last week, Waterford City and County Council said that "the proposed development would represent a substandard form of development creating a poor urban edge and streetscape to the Carrickphierish Neighbourhood".
The Council also outlined that the development is partially located on lands zoned for 'Existing Residential' use, and thus a supermarket would be contrary to zoning objectives in the area.
