Major supermarket plan in Kilbeggan is withdrawn

A planning application for a major new supermarket at the M6 Service Station on the Tullamore Road in Kilbeggan was withdrawn this week, just days before a decision on it was due to be made.

Kilbeggan Supermarket Ltd lodged a planning application for the significant development at the service station in January of this year.

The applicant notified Westmeath County Council of the withdrawal of the planning application in a letter dated Monday, September 7. The local authority had been scheduled to make its decision on the planning bid on or before September 13.

The proposed development involved the construction of a single-storey 505 square metre extension to the existing service station building which was intended to cater for retail use with a relocated off-licence and deli area.

Reconfiguration of the internal floor layout of the existing building was proposed in order to provide a retail area (492 sq m), deli area (78 sq m), seating area (72 sq m), with ancillary off licence area (30 sq m).

An expansion of car parking facilities was also proposed, involving six new electric vehicle charging spaces, and 13 additional regular parking spaces.

Proposed works on the Tullamore Road site also involved the demolition of 32 square metres of the existing shop building, and removal of an existing storage shed.

A 31-page planning statement and retail assessment report accompanying the planning application in January stated that the M6 Service Centre proposed to extend its foodstore in Kilbeggan to address "a significant under-provision of basic convenience goods" in a town which was currently "experiencing growth", including a planned 74-house development.

The extensive retail assessment also stated that Kilbeggan, which is designated as a "self-sustaining growth town," lacked "sufficient retail infrastructure to meet its growing population's needs" with existing convenience stores "small scale and limited in variety".