Planning sought for new Super Valu store in Moate

Planning permission has been sought from Westmeath County Council for a Moate retail development which would see the existing Dawn Dairies premises on the Dublin Road demolished to make way for a new Super Valu store. In an application submitted to the local authority last week, BK Developments Limited requested permission for a standalone Super Valu supermarket and ancillary accommodation, including provision for a new service access road to a 150-space car park. The proposed development would cover a gross floor area of 2405 square metres. It is envisioned that the standalone supermarket would include a deli counter with a hot food element, an off-licence, storage areas at the ground floor, as well as offices and staff facilities on the first floor. Permission was also sought for the creation of an entrance to the site off a new roundabout on the Dublin Road (N6), a new service access road to the car-park and to a service yard and loading bay, hard and soft landscaping, relocation of the existing ESB substation / switchroom and all associated site and development works including the demolition of the existing Dawn Dairies facility and associated buildings. A decision is due to be made on this application by September 24 next. Last year, during the public consultation process for the Westmeath retail strategy, the county council received a submission on behalf of the same developer, BK Developments, proposing the creation of a new retail centre at the former snowcream site. The development"s anchor supermarket unit was to have been occupied by Buckley"s SuperValu, which was poised to relocate from its current premises on Main Street in Moate. The submission on behalf of the developer stated that the 'constrained nature' of the current SuperValu premises increased the cost of doing business and reduced efficiency, meaning the existing store was not capable of providing the level of parking, range of goods, and shopping experience required by customers, At that time, the county council opposed the development as it had been put forward, stating: 'The relocation of supermarket as proposed would adversely impact on the viability and vitality of the town centre and result in increased vacant properties in the designated primary retail area of the town.' Local representatives for Moate, councillors Tom Allen and Joe Whelan stated at the time that there were space constraints at the current Super Valu site and that more consideration should be given to the BK Developments proposal.