Warning that Limerick store faces 'closure' if Aldi plan proceeds

THE PART-OWNER of a shopping centre has warned opening a new Aldi nearby may force the "closure" of its anchor tenant.

Aldi has secured permission from Limerick City and County Council to open on a site on the edge of Moyross, a move it says will create 30 new jobs.

But the decision has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala, with the national planning body expected to decide by March next year.

One of three bodies which appealed against the plan was Sataner, which owns part of the land in which the nearby Watch House Cross shopping centre is located.

It joined the centre operators itself and its anchor tenant Iceland Stores in providing objections to Aldi's multi-million euro plan.

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Brendan McGrath, an agent acting for Sataner picked up on an assertion from Aldi's agents when the firm provided further information to council that a discount supermarket like itself would be an "appropriate new use in a low-income housing area."

"This in my opinion is not an acceptable planning argument. And in my opinion, the undermining of an existing centre including the likely loss of its anchor tenant is not a cost that should have to be paid by the local community," Mr McGrath added in reference to Iceland, the largest retailer at Watch House Cross.

Mr McGrath also stated the decision by council to give permission was assessed in the context of the 2010 City Development Plan, which has now been superceded by the recently-adopted joint development plan.

He described a new Aldi store as a "direct threat to the integrity and viability of the Watch House Cross Centre as the proposal consists of a convenience store which is larger than the combined convenience store at Watch House Cross and more than 30% larger then the anchor unit."

Mr McGrath added the Watch House Cross has a "precarious commercial existence".

"We pointed out in our objection to the council that there have been three anchor tenants over the two decades of the centre's existence, all experienced traders," the agent said in reference to Supervalu, Eurospar and now Iceland.

"This history is strongly indicative of an inherently difficult trading condition in the locality and therefore the risk posed by permitting a large new store at a different site nearby," they added.

In its own submission, Iceland pointed to the "shrinking" population of Moyross, due to the "slow progression" of the regeneration programme.

"It is considered that the proposed development is of an inappropriate scale for the needs of the area as the subject site is situated within circa 500 metres of the Watch House Cross shopping centre which has a discount foodstore. We note that due to the proximity between the two, the area does not have a need for an additional commercial business of this type and development of such would put pressure on existing businesses," they stated.

An Bord Pleanala has given a decision date of March 7, 2023.