Tesco gets green light for major Cavan Town development

Tesco Ireland has been given the green light for a controversial new €30m, 50,000 sq ft development at Townspark, Cavan Town and Killynebber. The news will come as a blow to Cavan Town traders and their 'Keep Cavan Alive' who had appealed a decision by Cavan County Council to grant permission for the development in its current design. Traders, led by Jimmy Fox, expressed concern that the new development facing away from the town and at a different level to it would take shoppers and footfall away from the town centre. They had also argued that Cavan County Council should not have adjudicated on the original planning application as they had an agreement in place with Tesco for the sale of the land for the development, subject to planning permission. Tesco Ireland have previously stated that, once sanctioned, they could have the new store open within 18 months and that it would create a further 100 jobs locally (not including those at construction phast) in additional to those already employed by Tesco Ireland in the town. Spokesperson for Tesco Ireland, Michael O'Sullivan, also told the Celt that it has had "firm interest from a number of parties" in taking over the existing Tesco store at the Cavan Town carpark with Pennys among those rumoured to be interested. Tesco Ireland was successful in a related planning application a few weeks ago for a change of use of the existing store to accommodate any such new tenant.