The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE application made by Aldi for a new Shannon store is now available for public viewing and it claims that it has addressed concerns raised when an initial application was refused three years ago.
The lack of a conventional town centre is something that has been complained about in Shannon for many years and the application claims that the development would help to create a streetscape.
A cover letter accompanying the application states, “The proposed development has been redesigned from a single-storey building to a part one, part two-storey building (maximum height 9.96m), including a café/restaurant, as a direct response to the reasons for refusal”.
It adds, “The revised scheme provides a strong frontage and urban form addressing Airport Road, as sought by Clare County Council. The scheme also includes a 350m² café/restaurant, providing a suitable mix of uses on the site.
“We also note that a future pedestrian link is proposed to be provided connecting the site to the town centre via the R471. It is proposed that this connection be constructed by Clare County council at the cost of the applicant.”
A retail design statement accompanying the application states, “The subject site is located within the town of Shannon, on a town centre/mixed use zoned site directly to the north of the existing retail core. The Sky
Court Shopping Centre is located directly south of the site. The site fronts directly onto the Airport Road (R471).”
Explaining what is proposed, the document says it “comprises of the construction of a nonstandard Aldi Discount Foodstore, with a gross floor area of 1,762m² (1,234m² net retail floor space), together with a two-storey café (350m²) commanding views of the main Airport Road along with associated car parking, signage landscaping, boundary treatment and site works.”
Regarding the finished building, it states, “Aldi has invested significantly in the materials and external finishes of their stores in Ireland over the past number of years. Stores are typically single-storey and incorporate a range of attractive and durable materials, such as glass, stone and metal cladding.
“The design and functioning of Aldi stores has been carefully considered and refined over time to effectively represent the Aldi brand and the level of customer experience that visitors to the stores increasingly expect.
“This particular store has been designed specifically to suit the site constraints and aspect of the main Airport Road (R471). Aldi’s architects have revised Aldi’s standard design (with approval of Aldi Stores Ireland).”
The document explains that the front of the site will host a two-storey café and an associated outdoor seating area. “As this is the first building to be constructed as part of the new town centre, the architects wanted to set the tone of form, height and materials to the Aldi store and brought the building as close to the main Airport Road as possible to create a new building line and streetscape.”
It claims the “The café, with its two-storey front elevation ensures the building nestles in well within the site and will be pleasant to view both from the main Airport Road and when exiting the site.
“The design will now give Shannon Town Centre a quality required to be the catalyst for the remainder of the proposed developments that will come after.”
The document listed a range of benefits for Shannon. “The proposed development will increase the commercial attractiveness of the town centre to other private sector investors, as it will add diversity to the current range of retail provision into the town.
“It will increase the competitiveness of Shannon as a retail destination and increase choice for consumers, thereby attracting further customers to the town centre.
“It is anticipated that the proposal will act as a spur to the expansion of the town centre into the northern side of the Airport Road.”
It als claimed, “Aldi is committed to providing stores that are well maintained and managed and which contribute positively to their locations”.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
