The Government confirmed today that it is blocking the construction of new hyper-markets by big retailers.
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| Minister for the Environment and Local Government: Noel Dempsey |
Edited
In the Retail Planning Guidelines published by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Noel Dempsey, supermarket sizes will be restricted to 3000 square metres, with an elevated allowance in Dublin city of 3500 square metres.
Speaking at the announcement of the new caps on retail development, Mr Dempsey said he believed the new guidelines would offer widest range of competition possible to the consumer while protecting smaller retailers in smaller urban centres.
"I am satisfied that the guidelines address the complex planning issues arising from large-scale retail development and will be an essential tool for planning authorities when deciding on retail application," said Mr Dempsey.
"The guidelines will ensure that the future development of the retail sector in Ireland will accord with the principles of sustainable development while at the same time facilitating a competitive retail sector which can only benefit the consumer."
RGDATA, the organisation representing Ireland’s independent retail grocery sector has welcomed the publication of the new guidelines.
According to RGDATA the guidelines published after nearly 2 years of consultation, have re-affirmed the planning policy adopted by the Minister for Environment when he introduced the cap on Supermarket development in June 1998.
"RGDATA welcomes the publication of the Retail Planning Guidelines by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government will be studying the detail of the guidelines in the coming days," said RGDATA Director General, Ailish Forde.
"The guidelines, if correctly applied by the local authorities, should ensure that towns and villages in Ireland are not decimated by large out of town retail outlets.
The effect of such uncontrolled retail planning in the UK and other European countries has been catastrophic. At least now, the Minister has ensured that Ireland will take a planned and sustainable approach to the provision of retail shopping facilities in Irish cities, towns and villages."