Planning refused for Aldi store in Mayo town

Planning permission has been refused for a new Aldi supermarket in Swinford.

Mayo County Council refused to grant permission for the supermarket, which would have been located on a site near the local church.  

The local authority said the proposed development would have an adverse impact on the “vitality, viability and attractiveness” of Swinford’s traditional town centre. It said the supermarket would result in an over-concentration of retail development in this area of the town and would depreciate the value of property in the vicinity. There is already a Tesco supermarket near the proposed site.

Council planners said they believed the proposed development would be a potential traffic hazard as it had not been satisfactorily demonstrated how heavy goods vehicles would safely access and egress the site. Furthermore, the council said the applicant had not demonstrated how the proposed development would promote pedestrian connectivity within the town centre.

A number of submissions were made by locals objecting to the proposal.

Aldi can appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.