Aldi redesign Knocknacarra store plans
German retail giants Aldi have redesigned their proposed new supermarket off the Western Distributor Road in Knocknacarra – after orders from the City Council.
The Council said the plans did not meet the “high quality and design” expected for a newly-developing District Centre.
They also queried the need for yet another off licence in the Knocknacarra/Rahoon area.
Planners ordered that the blank façade facing onto the Distributor Road should be enlivened “allowing the building to interact with the public realm” and to include design features such as a glazed curtain wall.
They also ordered a redesign of the façade facing the unnamed link road, the removal of free standing Aldi signage and that landscaping plans be drawn up.
Aldi’s planning team subsequently redesigned the southern side of the building, including a new section of ‘curtain’ wall and a feature stone corner at the entrance from the Distributor Road.
They have removed the ‘problematic’ signage and agreed to provide a piece of artwork.
The opening hours were also clarified as being from 9am to 9pm on Monday to Saturday and 10am to 7pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
The retailer rejected the Council’s proposal to use a grasscrete surface in the carpark instead of tarmac, saying potential road safety issues could arise.
Permission already exists on the 1.6 acre greenfield site for a five-storey supermarket, offices and primary healthcare centre. However, Aldi admitted the plans are unviable as it cannot find a tenant for the medical facility. The plans were subsequently scaled back.
The current application is for a 1,540 square metre single-storey discount foodstore and off licence, along with 96 parking spaces.
Vehicular access will be via the unnamed link road which links Bóthar Stiofáin and the ‘Gateway Galway’ retail centre (Dunnes, B&Q), and pedestrian access will be via that road and from the Distributor Road.
In a submission, Tesco asked planners to ensure that access and traffic arrangements are sufficient “to circumvent any impact on existing traffic flows on the Western Distributor Road”.
RGDATA – which represents small, family-owned businesses – has objected to the plans on the grounds that retailing needs are already adequately served and would have an impact on established retail centres.