Redevelopment of Mayo LIDL store will create up to 10 new jobs

THE redevelopment of the LIDL store in Castlebar will create between five and 10 new jobs in the county town.

Lidl Ireland GmbH has applied for planning permission to demolish their existing supermarket (c.1,854 sqm gross floor space) and replace it with a new, larger store, with 2,451 sqm gross floor space.

Documents submitted to Mayo County Council explain how the proposed anchor element will provide an upgraded foodstore for customers, including an expansion in retail sales area.

In retail terms, the increase in convenience sales floor area is relatively small, at 355 sqm or 31%.

The redevelopment affords the opportunity to provide a modern retail building, of a higher specification than the existing store, which will enhance the character of the area, and provide a better shopping and working environment.

It is estimated that the proposed store will provide up to five to 10 additional direct full-time jobs, in addition to the existing full-time equivalent staff level (generating up to c. €0.5 million additionally per annum locally in wages).

In terms of construction stage employment, the company estimates a dividend to the area in the order of €3.0 million during the course of the build.

The report added: 'The proposal will also provide the (growing) Castlebar area and its catchment with an enhanced retail offer (which the current population has already outgrown), and somewhat reflect the substantial increase in discount foodstore market share, and retail expenditure in general, in recent years.

'Whilst the proposed development does not constitute an extension of the existing building, we submit that it should be assessed along similar considerations, as the existing store on site has a long established pattern of use and activity which the proposed development will merely build on, similar to other recently permitted redevelopments of Lidl stores locally and nationally.

'Regardless of the demolition of the premises and replacement with a new building, the proposal remains an extension of the existing ‘use’ and should be assessed accordingly, in line with similarly permitted redevelopments nationally.'