New showroom facilities planned at Athlone car dealership

An Athlone car sales business has lodged a planning bid for a new showroom development on a greenfield site next to its existing premises.

The planning application on behalf of Michael Moore Car Sales Ltd, located on the old Dublin Road at Creggan Upper, Fardrum, Athlone, was submitted to Westmeath County Council on July 28.

A total of four new buildings are being proposed on a 4.08 acre site to the west (Athlone town side) of the existing Michael Moore Audi Athlone premises.

The largest of the proposed buildings is a 1,780 square metre single-storey motor vehicle service and sales facility.

In addition, there are plans for a 952 sq m partially two-storey motor service and sales building, along with two smaller detached ancillary buildings to be used for valeting and washing vehicles.

A derelict house currently on the site, along with ancillary buildings, is due to be demolished as part of the development, and an access road is also proposed off the old Dublin Road.

A total of 316 new parking spaces are being planned, including 32 customer parking spaces, and two disabled spaces at the two larger proposed buildings.

An architectural report submitted with the planning application states that the development was prompted by the need to develop a new standalone sales premises for the Mercedes Benz brand.

"The catalyst for the proposed development is the requirement that the applicant provides a new 'stand-alone' motor sales facility for Mercedes Benz, which will incorporate the current Mercedes corporate design and new electric vehicles," the architectural report explains.

"In the current Michael Moore Car Sales campus, the Mercedes Benz showroom is in the same building as competing brands.

"This situation is no longer acceptable to the motor brand/main distributor and consequently Michael Moore Car Sales have been requested to provide a new stand-along facility for Mercedes Benz."

The architectural report states that the development site was purchased by Michael Moore Car Sales Ltd from adjoining landowners earlier this year, with the purchase made "on the basis of obtaining all necessary statutory approvals".

The report states that two acres of the development site are being allotted to the proposed Mercedes Benz franchise, while "another motor brand, yet to be confirmed," will operate from the second proposed vehicle service and sales building

The proposed Mercedes Benz showroom "will utilise their current corporate design, which envisages a dynamic full height glazed facade onto the road, with an oversailing roof canopy," the report said.

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement were submitted as part of the planning application.

Members of the public can make submissions on the plans up until August 31, and a decision on the planning application is due to be made by September 21.