Lidl aiming to have new Ballymahon store open this year
Construction work on the new Lidl store planned for Ballymahon is due to commence shortly.
The supermarket chain was granted planning permission last December for a store in the town which it said would deliver up to 25 full-time jobs.
The foodstore, with off-licence sales, is to be constructed on a site at Main Street/Church View backlands in Ballymahon, including the rear of the former St Matthew's National School, Nally Tyres/Circle K, and adjoining lands.
When contacted by the Westmeath Independent, a spoksperson for Lidl Ireland said yesterday (Tuesday) it was expected that construction of the new premises would be starting in the coming weeks.
"At present, we have plans to commence construction of our new Ballymahon store before Easter," said the spokesperson.
It's understood that the building of the store is likely to take approximately eight months and will involve more than 80 construction workers.
Lidl said it was anticipated that the store would be ready to open to the public "before the end of 2025."
The company added that it was "committed to bringing our high quality and affordable products to local communities across Ireland as part of our ambitious expansion plans."
In its planning application, Lidl said that, when operational, the Ballymahon store would "generate in the order of €1.2 million per annum locally" in wages to staff.
It said this sum was in addition to "further jobs created or supported indirectly and other construction stage employment, in the order of €3 million in construction wages alone".
The proposed store will span 2,291 square metres in gross floor space, with a net retail sales area of 1,489 sq metres.
The retail chain said in its planning application that the development would provide a "growing" Ballymahon area with "an enhanced and competitive retail offer, alongside the existing SuperValu anchor in the town, serving the community with an appropriate level of food shopping facilities, currently absent".
Earlier this week, Lidl Ireland announced pay increases for its existing workforce, with its minimum wage for employees rising to €15.10 per hour.