Decision made on plans for major expansion of Dunnes Stores in Limerick suburb

PLANNERS have denied permission for the expansion of a Dunnes Stores in the suburbs - over the negative impact it may have on the city centre.

Better Value Unlimited Company, which is part of the supermarket giant’s group, sought permission to expand the Dunnes Stores Childers Road outlet into the neighbouring Lifestyle Sports branch, which has ceased trading.

Operating since 2005 at what is now known as Limerick One Shopping Centre, Dunnes Stores sells food, as well as homeware and clothing in its branch here.

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The application states the plans would result in an increase of 645 square metres of retail floor space.

“The purpose of this application is to create a modest area of additional comparison floor space needed to improve the layout of the stores’s fashion and homeware departments and make the departments within easier to browse with a shopping trolley,” agents for Better Value Unlimited Company wrote in documents provided to council planners.

Comparison items refer to non-food goods such as household products or clothing.

The company agents stated there had been no substantive improvements to the store since it opened 20 years ago.

“This will be a substantial investment by Dunnes Stores reflecting improvements made in other stores including Jetland Shopping Centre in Limerick,” they stated.

As part of the plans, there would be no separate entrance into Dunnes from the retail park - all shoppers would continue to use the main entry point.

The agents said the store serves a population of 7,000 people, pointing out this is equivalent to a town similar in size to Loughrea in Galway, Roscommon or Roscrea in Tipperary.

“The re-use of an empty unit is a fundamental component of any urban renewal project and thus constitutes a tangible benefit,” they added.

There were no formal submissions or objections to the application to expand the supermarket.

However, council planners rejected the bid, saying it ran counter to a number of blueprints.

Among these , they stated it would contravene objective Econ 02 of the Limerick Suburbs Retail Strategy.

This states: “It is an objective of the council to ensure proposals which would undermine the vitality and viability of Limerick city centre will not be permitted.”