Jobs boost as €5m retail development gets green light
This follows An Bord Pleanála giving the go-ahead to local businessman John Jones’s retail plan for Miltown Malbay.
In doing so, the appeals board dismissed the recommendation of its own inspector, who stated that permission should be refused on a number of grounds.
The decision by the appeals board throws out appeals by a rival retail operator, Richard Coyle of Heinz Londis and two businessmen, Jim Shannon and Michael Gleeson, behind plans for a new retail development in the town.
Mr Coyle was successful in having a previous retail plan by Mr Jones refused by An Bord Pleanála.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Jones said: “I am delighted with the decision. It has been a drawn-out process, but I believe that this is the right and fair result.”
Mr Jones said 70 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the Supervalu store and it will employ 50 when open.
“We would hope that work would commence by the end of the summer on the development and we would be aiming to be open for Easter or summer next year,” he said. “Not one person from Miltown Malbay objected. The only three to appeal are people who do not live in Miltown Malbay. There was great support from local people and that is what kept myself and my wife, Claire, going with this after we first started discussing it six years ago.”
Mr Jones said that the new supermarket is part of “carrying on the strong tradition from my family in retail in Miltown, which dates back to 1838. We have a very good record and run a respectable business”.
In its decision, the appeals board ruled that the plan “would not be detrimental to the vitality and viability of the existing town centre, would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of the property in the vicinity, would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience and would not be prejudicial to public health and would generally comply with the orderly development of the town”.
The inspector in the case recommended that the planning application be refused on three grounds on the basis that it was premature.
