Developer appeals conditions of planning approval for Tullamore neighbourhood centre

The developer of an approved neighbourhood centre development in Tullamore, set to include a new SuperValu store, has lodged a planning appeal against some of the conditions of the planning permission.

Cedarglade Ltd., with an address at Musgrave House in Cork, had been given planning approval by Offaly County Council in November, subject to 19 conditions, for a 2,100 sq m supermarket, a 240 sq m cafe with outside seating, a 110 sq m pharmacy, a 78 sq m shop, 135 car parking spaces and 26 bicycle spaces on lands at Collins Lane.

Cedarglade Ltd, is a subsidiary of Musgraves, which is the company behind the SuperValu and Centra brands.

The subject site is located 2km north of Tullamore town centre, and in close proximity to the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall, the Educate Together primary school and the recently-completed Hawthorns housing development.

In its appeal, agents for Cedarglade, stressed “the grant of permission for the development is very much welcomed by the applicants.

“The applicant is committed to the delivery of a high quality local neighbourhood development and is eager to progress with commencing of the permission as soon as a final grant of permission is forthcoming,” it said.

However, it sought the removal of two elements of the planning conditions, relating to amendments and redesign of a roundabout and associated junctions.

“We believe that these conditions are unjustified and disproportionately onerous,” it said, listing six grounds of appeal.

Among these were the contention that pre-planning engagement Offaly County Council did not raise any concerns or issues regarding any requirement for a potential upgrade to the roundabout and associated junctions.

“The applicant reasonably assumed that the existing infrastructure was either satisfactory or where deficient would be addressed separately by Offaly County Council, as necessary as part of the broader planning processes.”

“It is clear that the particular piece of infrastructure serves a wider catchment and it not just the current proposal that will benefit from same,” it said.

The agents also said that “the land take required for the redesign of the roundabout and associated junctions are not within the applicant's control of ownership. Rather these lands are controlled by Offaly County Council.”