Lidl applies to Louth County Council to expand Dundalk development

Lidl is seeking to expand its plans for a two storey discount food store in the centre of Dundalk, with a planning application lodged with Louth County Council in recent days.

Lidl Ireland GmbH was granted planning permission in November 2022 for a development at Tom Bellew Avenue & Bóthar an Iarainn, The Long Avenue, Dundalk, that includes the demolition of all boundary walls and the construction of a two storey discount food store (supermarket) with ancillary off-licence sales area and 'Deposit Return Scheme' room for the recycling of aluminium cans and plastic bottles, and an integrated coffee shop unit. 

The planning application also provided for the provision of 136 surface level car parking spaces, including two dedicated Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging spaces with circa 20% of other parking spaces to be pre-wired for future EV parking, and 20 cycle parking spaces. Access to the proposed development is via Tom Bellew Avenue.

In a new application lodged with Louth County Council on 24 October 2025, Lidl is seeking the go ahead to increase the proposed building’s gross floor area from 2,723sqms to 2,792sqms, and an increased net sales area within the foodstore from 1,500 to 1,706sqms.

Read also: Louth County Council has refused planning permission for 22 new homes at Haynestown in Dundalk

It is also seeking to move the off license sales area from the rear of the store to an area closer to the front of the shop and to increase the floor area of the café/coffee shop from 84sqms to 109sqms, as well as the inclusion of a new retail unit of 60sqms.

The application also provides for the general reconfiguration of the internal staff areas and storage areas at ground and first floor, and an increase to the height of southern portion of the building. along with various elevation changes, and amendments to the layout of the car parking area including.

Planned amendments to the east side of the foodstore include replacing the plaza with landscaping; relocation of the 20 bike stands, the trolley bay and the ramped access from the public road to the development. 

A decision on the application, which is at a pre-validation stage, is due by 18 December 2025, with submissions due by 27 November.