Lidl's Bantry plan faces opposition

LIDL has been granted planning permission to develop a supermarket at Newtown in Bantry.

Cork County Council has granted planning permission for the development at the 3.52-hectare site. Five observations were submitted to the Council in respect of the application, and one of the five has appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

An Bord Pleanala will now review the decision and assess if the application complies with policy. The planning appeals authority is obliged to make its findings known within three to six months.

The planning process in relation to the proposed development of a supermarket at Newtown has proven to be controversial. Some locals believe the application contravenes planning policy because policy states that the town centre should be maintained as the primary retail hub.