NTA object to local Lidl plan

THE National Transport Authority is asking Dublin City Council to refuse planning permission for the new Ballymun Lidl development.

The development, on the site bounded by Balbutcher Lane, Balcurris Road and Ballymun Main Street, includes a retail store and over 60 units that can provide beds for more than 360 students.

Earlier this year, local councillors voted to dispose of the three acre €2.5 million site where three blocks of flats once stood to Lidl Ireland GMBH, which was selected as the preferred bidder after a tendering process.

The application was lodged on September 29 following public meetings in the local community during which the German low-cost retailer outlined its plans.

The development has been widely welcomed by the local community as Ballymun has been lacking shopping facilities since the closure of Tesco three years ago, with only one major retailer, SuperValu, currently serving the local community.

However, last week the NTA dropped a bombshell by lodging an objection urging Dublin City Council to reject the plan.

The NTA argues that the development could interfere with plans for the Metro North, which is expected to run up Ballymun Main Street.

Work on the 17km rail link between Dublin Airport and the city centre is planned to begin in 2021, with a completion date predicted for 2027.

“The NTA in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are currently finalizing more focused analysis of possible Metro alignments and possible station location,” the NTA objection reads.

The NTA anticipates it will complete its analysis by the end of 2017 and hold a public consultation early next year on a preferred alignment and station configuration.

“The proposed development is situated on a key site in relation to serving Ballymun Town Centre and its development, at this time, may prejudice the development of an optimal alignment and station arrangement for this area,” the NTA objection says.

The NTA is recommending that permission be refused on the basis that it would be premature in advance of Metro North plans.

News of the objection has been met with dismay from local politicians.

Ballymun Sinn Féin Councillor and local resident Noeleen Reilly said she was shocked that the NTA would seek to stop the development of retail facilities in the area.

“It is no secret that Ballymun has a lack of retail facilities,” she said.

“The Ballymun regeneration did not deliver what was promised to residents and that was the biggest failure of the regeneration.

“Recently it looked like we were turning the tide on that with the acquisition of land by Lidl and the lodging of planning permission. This has been very much welcomed by the community.

“Now to discover that the NTA has put in an objection to this and asking for a refusal is very disappointing.

“They have dangled the Metro North at our community for decades and now they want to stall any development in the area for the next ten years. 

“This is not acceptable and is very worrying for this project and future development along the Metro line.

“The NTA appear to know nothing about the needs of people in Ballymun.  We cannot wait any longer for shops in the area.

Cllr Reilly is calling on the NTA to meet with Lidl and the Minister for Transport “as a matter of urgency” to sort out issues before Christmas to allow building to start as soon as possible.