New Moate supermarket knocked back by Pleanala

A new Supervalu supermarket earmarked for the old Dawn Dairies site in Moate has fallen foul of planners in An Bord Pleanala in recent days. After the board ruled that the "excessive scale" of the development would pose a "significant threat to the viability and vitality of Moate town centre". In refusing permission for the development, the Board overruled a decision last November by Westmeath County Council to give BK Developments the green light to build a brand new standalone supermarket, comprising of over 2,400 square metres of floor area and 150 parking spaces on the 1.21 hectare site on the Dublin Road. However, that verdict was later appealed to An Bord Pleanála by Joseph McCormack of Ballinakill, Moate on the grounds that the location of the new supermarket, a kilometre from Moate, would have an adverse impact on the town centre and efforts should be focused on developing the town from the centre outwards. The submission also claimed that the scale of the project was "excessive" and was not in accordance with Retail Guidelines or the County Development Plan. An Bord Pleanála also stated in the decision that the proposed supermarket would be "remote, car orientated and would not be an optimum location for a new retail development", which is accessible to all sections of the society and of a scale allowing the continued prosperity of the traditional town centre, a step that it felt breached the Westmeath County Development Plan. Furthermore, it is considered that the development would be "premature" before a Local Area Plan for Moate is drawn up. Meanwhile, noise and the general level of activity generated by the supermarket would decrease the value of neighbouring properties, the ruling also pointed out, adding that the traffic generated would tend to create "serious traffic congestion" on the existing regional road R446. The supermarket plans included a deli counter, off-licence, storage areas, offices, staff facilities and plant room at first floor. The proposals also included a new vehicle entrance to the site off a new roundabout on to the N6 Dublin Road, 150 parking spaces and the demolition of the old Dawn Dairies buildings on site.