Belgard Inn development plans for a new coffee shop
By Aideen O'Flaherty
LIDL has lodged a planning application with South Dublin County Council in relation to their development at the former site of the Belgard Inn, seeking an amendment for the change of use of the ground and first floor of one of their permitted retail units to instead house a coffee shop.
As previously reported in The Echo, Lidl secured planning permission for the demolition of The Belgard Inn, the adjoining multi-deck car park and associated units to facilitate the construction of a new ‘concept’ store, plaza and retail/café building on site.
An aerial shot of the development on Belgard Road. Photo: Ben Ryan
Plans for the construction of a new pub were also included in the application, with the German discount retailer additionally lodging an application last October for planning permission for the construction of a vehicular entry and exit point for the sole use of pub patrons.
The development is expected to reach completion next month.
Two artists’ impressions of the development, giving an idea of what it will look like on completion, were released last month by Donegal-based construction company McCallion Group, who are carrying out the work on the site.
In their current application for permission for the change of use of a retail unit to instead facilitate a coffee shop, the German discounter outlined plans “for the change of use of the ground and first floor of the southerly unit in the permitted block two, from retail to coffee shop and their amalgamation into a single operational unit.”
Provision for signage areas and all associated works including external changes to the façade of the building is included in the application, with a decision due from the council by February 23.
As the planned coffee shop is in the early stages of planning, and it is not yet known whether it will receive planning permission, it is not clear which business would run the coffee shop.
Lidl have previously carried out ‘concept’ retail developments around the country, including on Main Street in Tallaght and Dunshaughlin in Meath, both of which include Costa Coffee outlets, however, Lidl also ran their own pop-up bakery and coffee shop in Rathmines last year, so as such it’s still uncertain who will run the coffee shop if it gets the green light from the council.
