Chadwicks granted permission to reopen in Athlone
Chadwicks, the Irish builders' merchanting company, will reopen for business at its former base in Athlone Business Park.
Westmeath County Council granted approval for the development, subject to 11 conditions, which will see the company recommence business in Athlone. Chadwicks ceased its original operations at the same location on November 30, 2012.
The existing warehouse was purpose-built to function as a Chadwicks builders’ provider, serving Athlone and its surrounding catchment area.
The property successfully traded as a Chadwicks facility until the economic downturn, when the national property crash severely affected trading conditions.
Consequently, operations at the premises ceased. Notwithstanding this, Topez Limited (a subsidiary company of Grafton Group Plc of which Chadwicks Group Limited is also a subsidiary) retained ownership of the building, which the planning application said reflected its intention to resume use of the property when market conditions allowed.
Following the closure of the original business, the premises was then used as a distribution hub.
In the planning application submitted to Westmeath County Council in November 2025, Chadwicks stated that it was always the company's intention to recommence trading as a builders merchant at the property.
The extended period of use as a distribution hub required the applicant to seek formal permission to reinstate the building's original use, which has been approved as part of the new development.
The approved planning application will see the extension in size of the gross floor area of the building from 2,116 sq m to 2,737 sq m, while the maximum building height of 10.265 m will remain unchanged.
An existing mezzanine, 182 sq m in size, will be removed and replaced by two new mezzanine areas, 670 sq m and 133 sq m in size respectively, designed to create extra internal space within the development.
The provision of new signage, a new security hut and HGV loading bays has also been approved as part of the development.
Chadwicks Group operates over 50 stores across all of its brands with over 1,400 staff.