Permission sought in Buncrana for a Lidl move across the road

Lidl Ireland GmbH is seeking permission to build a 50% bigger supermarket across the road from its current premises in Buncrana. 

Permission has been sought by the German retailer for a new discount foodstore and off-licence (with mono-pitch roof and internal mezzanine plant deck) measuring 2,356 sqm gross floor space with a net retail sales area of 1,497 sqm on McCarter's Rd. 

The new single-storey building, if constructed on the two-acre site, will be situated across the road from their current shop and adjacent to Aldi supermarket and beside the former Buncrana Medical Centre.

The supermarket giant is also seeking permission for a car parking area and internal traffic and pedestrian circulation routes, and vehicular and pedestrian access, as the current access point is to be closed off and relocated closer to Aldi and away from the T-junction where it currently sits.

Other developments sought by Lidl include free-standing and building-mounted signage, trolley bay structure, external refrigeration and air handling/conditioning plant and equipment, electricity sub-station building, roof-mounted solar panels, and public lighting. 

The detailed application includes permission for hard and soft landscaping, cycle parking, boundary treatments (including retaining structures), works and connections to water supply, wastewater, and surface water infrastructure and utilities, and all other associated and ancillary development and works above and below ground level.

Lidl first opened its shop in Buncrana in 2004. In 2013, the retail premises underwent a refurbishment with the construction of a bakery and freezer area in the store.

Lidl Ireland outlined in their application why they were seeking to move to the premises across the road, as the current store, “though well-used, is smaller and outdated. Relocating to the new, larger site enables the delivery of a modern retail environment with improved layout, accessibility, and sustainability features.”

“The existing premises are undersized and otherwise inadequate to cater for current and emerging customer requirements,” Lidl outlined in their Planning Statement. 

It is proposed that the car park will have a total of 100 spaces, including six disabled spaces, four parent and child spaces, and two EV charging points. It will also include six bicycle spaces.  

The new store will create between five and ten additional full-time jobs, in addition to the existing full-time staff, "generating over half a million euro additionally per annum locally in wages,” Lidl stated. 

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It is estimated that construction would begin in early 2028 if granted planning permission, with the shop opening in the spring of 2029. 

Lidl Ireland also outlined in their application that it is intended that the existing store “will be repurposed under a subsequent planning application. It is envisaged that the unit could be used for lower order comparison/ bulky goods; however, the ultimate end user is not yet known.”