Lidl granted planning for new store in East Cork that will create dozens of local jobs
Cork County Council has approved a planning application from Lidl Ireland to construct a brand new store in East Cork. The new development in Carrigtwohill was approved earlier this week and is expected to bring a significant jobs boost to the locality, both during and after construction.The German retail giant has secured planning to construct a new 2,864 sqm store along the Cork Road in Carrigtwohill, just a stone's throw away from fellow retailer Aldi. The plans include both an off-license and a bakery, as well as a large solar panel array that will help meet some of the store's energy needs with renewable sources.The store will have 85 car parking spaces - including six disabled spaces, four parent-and-child spaces, and two EV charging spaces - as well as 28 bicycle spaces. Planning was also granted for all associated site works, including new roadworks, lighting, an external trolley bay, and a small ESB substation.Based on figures for similarly sized stores, it's estimated that the new Lidl will create somewhere in the region of 30 new jobs in the locality. More details on the precise number of jobs will be released closer to the completion date, and work is expected to begin at the site in the coming months.Cork County Council approved the application subject to 63 conditions, the majority of which relate to typical construction issues such as waste disposal, noise levels, air quality, and hours of work. The company has also been asked to contribute towards public works in the area, with the council requesting a payment of €28,756 in respect of the Cobh/Midleton - Blarney Suburban Rail Project.Lidl previously lodged a planning application for a new store at the same site in 2024, but it was refused by the council.The planning department denied the application on the grounds that it was 'contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area' and that the proposed site did not fit the objectives of the Cork County Development Plan 2022. The previous application included a slightly smaller store but a larger number of parking spaces.A small number of objections were lodged in respect of the recently approved application, with locals expressing dissatisfaction about the extent of the changes when compared to the one lodged in 2024. One local resident submitted a lengthy 26-page objection criticising the scope of the changes, the car-centric nature of the proposal and the development's impact on the character of the locality.The news of a new store comes as Lidl recently put out a call for Cork suppliers to contact them about their Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, which helps artisan businesses get their products on store shelves nationwide.Last year’s intake saw more than 46 artisan products from 25 Irish producers hit the shelves of Lidl stores across the island of Ireland. Cork suppliers that have taken part in the programme over the last number of years include Second Street Bakeshop, Greenfield Yoghurts and The Good Dairy Company.The scheme is backed by Bord Bia and successful applicants undergo a six-month supplier development programme, receiving dedicated business support from Lidl’s in-house experts, and culminating in a promotional listing of their products across the retailer’s 234 stores across the island of Ireland.Kevin Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl Ireland, said: "Lidl's Kickstart Supplier Development programme champions local Irish producers. It's not just about getting products on our shelves; it enables these businesses to grow significantly, offering our customers a fantastic, vibrant selection of innovative new Irish products."We are incredibly proud of the programme's long-term success. Over the past ten years, we’ve seen phenomenal achievements from participants like Fused by Fiona, securing full, permanent listings and becoming everyday fixtures in our stores. What’s more, we’ve leveraged our massive international store network to help products go global, opening up exciting new markets across the UK, Europe, and the USA."As we look to build on this decade of success, we really want to encourage any aspiring food and drink entrepreneurs who are interested in scaling their business to connect with us."
