ALDI have been refused planning permission for a new store in Shannon by Clare County Council planners.
In a Chief Executive’s Order issued this week, the reasons given for the refusal included zoning, the lack of pedestrian linkages to the Town Centre, and it is claimed the development would contravene objectives in the Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan.
The Order states, “The subject site is located on lands zoned as Mixed Use in the Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan and on lands identified to provide a future town centre area. It is considered that the proposed development would provide for an appropriate mix, range and type of uses consistent with the zoning objectives of the site.”
It claimed the development “would seriously injure the amenities of the area”.
In addition the Order states that the lack of “safe, convenient and attractive pedestrian linkages” to the Town Centre would materially contravene the current Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan.
While it states that the site is on land zoned as mixed use, the development “would fail to satisfactorily relate to the existing town centre lands and uses”.
It notes that a new Shannon Spatial and Economic Plan is being completed, which includes the subject site and wider town centre zoned lands.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.