Delay to Bord Pleanála verdict on Monksland supermarket appeal

A decision on an appeal against Roscommon County Council's decision to refuse planning permission for a new supermarket in Monksland has been delayed until late July.

The proposed supermarket - which was referred to as "Lidl store, Athlone, Roscommon" in some of the drawings lodged with the planning application - was turned down by the council last November.

The decision was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála by MCS River Village Limited, the company behind the proposed supermarket, which was earmarked for a site next to Joe Duffy Motors and across from the Athlone Springs Hotel.

An Bord Pleanála had been scheduled to decide on the appeal by April 29, but at the end of last month it notified the parties involved in the appeal that there had been a delay and that it was now expected to be decided by July 22.

It said the delay was due to "a significant backlog of cases" at the planning board.

"This backlog has arisen in the context of reduced capacity at board level in the first half of 2023 due to a turnover of board personnel in that period.

"Capacity at board level has since been restored by the appointment of new board members and the board is now addressing the existing backlog of cases," it added.

The proposed supermarket would have a gross floor area of 2,210 square metres and would include an ancillary off-licence sales area.

The plans submitted to the council also included the provision of 127 parking spaces at the retail premises.