A CONTROVERSIAL Lidl development in Castleknock is finally going ahead after a High Court decision gave a green light to the project.
Fingal County Council granted permission for the low-cost supermarket in 2016 but it its decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
A request for a judicial review of the appeal has now been rejected by the High Court, much to the frustration of many locals.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, who is local TD for Dublin West, has previously said he was disappointed with the decision to grant permission for the development.
Other local TDs including former Tainaste Joan Burton (Lab) and Jack Chambers (FF) have also been opposed to the plans.
The new Lidl supermarket will be on a site, part of which is located within the Castleknock Village Architectural Conservation Area.
The proposed mixed-use development will have a total floor area of almost 5,000 sq mt in three separate blocks arranged around a new street and public spaces.
The development will include the Lidl supermarket as well as a café and a residential component with six three-bed duplex apartments and two two-bed apartments.
A medical centre is included in the plans and access to the development will be from the existing entrance on the Castleknock Road, which is to be upgraded and improved.
The development will mean demolition for a number of existing buildings, including a flower shop, a former betting office and the vacant dwelling known as Church View.
When completed, the development will create 60 new jobs made up of 30 permanent positions in the Lidl store with the medical centre and retail units expected to employ a further 30.
In excess of 100 construction jobs will be created during the building phase.
Alan Barry, Director of Property at Lidl Ireland, welcomed the High Court decision, which allows the project to proceed.
''We are pleased with the ruling which dismissed a judicial review on all grounds taken against a mixed use development in Castleknock anchored by a Lidl supermarket,” he said.
“We look forward to commencing construction of the development by April of this year.
“The development in the centre of Castleknock was granted permission by Fingal County Council in September 2016 and since then has been the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála and most recently the recent judicial review in the High Court.
“The High Court decision paves the way for upwards of €15million to be invested in the Castleknock area with the building of a Lidl Supermarket, a medical center, cafe, retail units and eight residential apartments.
“The development has been designed to the highest of standards taking into account the surrounding buildings and local architecture.
“When complete, the development will greatly enhance the services and provisions available to the local communities of Castleknock. Lidl will appoint a building contractor in the coming weeks and will hold an open evening to showcase the detailed designs where building timelines will be communicated to the local community.”