This follows five separate third-party appeals being lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) against last month’s decision by Galway Co Council to grant planning permission for the outlet to Aldi Stores (Ireland) Ltd on lands adjacent to the Ceardlann An Spidéal craft village, Builín Blasta Café and Stiúideo Cuan.
In the case, Fóram Chois Fharraige um Pleanáil Teanga CTR, Noel Kavanagh, Nigel Slemon, Martin O’Donnell and Michael A Cadden have each lodged appeals with ACP.
One of the appellants, Mr Cadden has stated that the planned Aldi is proposed for a site opposite the local promenade.
He said: “It is unbelievable that Aldi is seeking approval to put a sizeable structure in this location, which would tarnish the unique landscape of Connemara.”
“This natural environment should be left intact and respected as a local/tourist location,” Mr Cadden added.
On behalf of Mr O’Donnell, planning consultant Brendan McGrath said: “Given the scale of the intended development in a rural setting, and its car-dependent format, it is inevitable that the proposal contravenes many policy objectives of the county development plan.”
Mr McGrath also pointed out that the site is beside the Wild Atlantic Way, and therefore subject to the development plan objective to preserve protected views and scenic routes from development that would negatively impact on them.
In planning documents lodged with the application, Aldi planning consultant John Spain said that the proposed development “seeks to make optimum use of this underutilised village centre site located on the eastern side of An Spidéal”.
Mr Spain added that the store “will contribute positively to the range and variety of convenience retail provision in An Spidéal and its rural hinterland”.
In the planning report and retail assessment lodged with the application, Mr Spain estimated that, by 2028, the revenues from the store would be €11m from available convenience expenditure of €35.7m, leaving an estimated available surplus of €18m when the spend at local retailers is taken into account.
He stated that the available surplus for additional convenience retail floorspace “is significant, which demonstrates the need to enhance the scale and quality of convenience retail floorspace within the area”.
A decision on the case is due in December.