Plans lodged for new Lidl across from existing Athlone store

Westmeath County Council is due to decide next month on a planning application for a large new Lidl supermarket to replace its existing store in the Athlone Business Park.

The proposed 2,494 square metre outlet would be located across from the current Lidl branch, on the site of the Colm Quinn Motorstore.

The Colm Quinn Group told the Westmeath Independent that the Motorstore would be relocated to a site adjoining its existing BMW and MINI business in Athlone, and to a site it had recently acquired in Galway city.

Lidl Ireland, meanwhile, said it was "in discussions with a number of parties" about a future use for the site of its existing supermarket, which has been trading since 2000.

The proposed single-storey Lidl foodstore and off-licence includes provision for a "new public plaza area fronting on to the Dublin Road," along with 128 surface car parking spaces, which would include electrical vehicle charging spaces.

The plans state that the existing car sales showroom on the 1.06 hectare site would be dismantled and removed for reuse elsewhere.

The planning bid is proposing some "minor adjustments" to the "existing northerly vehicular access" to the site, along with the "closure of the southerly vehicle access point".

A number of pedestrian access points would also be created, including a new access in the existing wall on the northern boundary of the site. A 58 square metre trolley bay is being proposed as part of the development, along with signage on the store and a "flagpole" sign.

The planning application was submitted to the local authority by Lidl Ireland on April 30, and the decision on it is expected by June 24.

A statement issued by the Colm Quinn Goup this week said: "In line with current expansion plans at Colm Quinn Group, the business carried out at Colm Quinn Motorstore will be relocated to an adjoining site at its existing BMW and MINI business on the Glasson Road in Athlone, as well as to a newly acquired site in Galway City.

"This week, the Group have started construction on Phase 2 of their development at Drogheda. A temporary sales showroom has been in operation at Drogheda since late 2019, and construction is now underway on a 9-car BMW showroom and 10-bay workshop.

"Plans are also progressing to start development on the Colm Quinn BMW Sligo business later in 2021, with the construction of a BMW showroom and workshop on a newly-acquired site at Sligo Retail Park.

"This expansion to the Colm Quinn Group will create a further 70 jobs across the Group, in addition to its existing 130 employees," it said.