Store wars on horizon as Tesco plans move
BOSSES EYE 18-ACRE SITE NEAR SHOPPING CENTRE
Wednesday August 25 2010
TESCO GOREY is planning to move to a larger premises on a vacant site near Dunnes Stores on the far side of Gorey, if it is given permission for the project by Wexford County Council.
A company called Niralcy Limited last week published a planning application for a new larger Tesco Store on an 18-acre greenfield site which is close to Gorey Shopping Centre at Ramstown Lower along the old N11 near the Monument.
According to the application, Niralcy Limited is looking for permission for a supermarket with a gross floor area of 8,242 sq.m., of which 2,257 sq.m. (net) is allocated to convenience goods and 2,650 sq.m. (net) is allocated to comparison goods. The plan also includes a service yard, access roads, a 606 space surface car park, and all associated works at Ramstown Lower.
The advert adds that the proposed development is a replacement store for Tesco Ireland Ltd and will result in additional floor space of 709 sq.m. for convenience goods (net), and 1,954 sq.m. (net) for comparison goods.
The planning application is expected to be lodged with Wexford County Council very shortly.
The sale of the land was agreed in 2008, and is subject to planning. The site in question is also earmarked for a link road from the Avenue to the Monument. A section of this road is already in place, running past the Gorey Shopping Centre.
The current building occupied by Tesco is owned by a local business family and leased to Tesco. The company is understood to have been looking around for a larger site for several years, as its capacity for expansion is restricted on the current site. However, how the move away from a prime location on the Courtown Road will affect its business remains to be seen.
- FINTAN LAMBE
