Supermarket gets green light to stock its shelves with beer at Limerick branch

AN Coimisiún Pleanála has given Tesco Ireland planning permission to increase the range of alcohol it serves at its store in Moyross.

But the supermarket giant has been told it cannot advertise the sale of alcohol on the front of its shop window at Watch House Cross.

Up to now, Tesco Ireland only sold wine at its newest Limerick outlet on the northside.

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Limerick City and County Council gave the firm permission to begin stocking beer, spirits and other alcohols.

But this decision was appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

The application to increase the alcohol range came despite the fact there is an existing off-licence in the unit adjoining Tesco’s Moyross branch.

One person who appealed against the council’s approval stated that granting permission to the sale of a wider range of alcohols in Tesco would give rise to “increased crime, loitering, public drinking, littering, harm to public safety, pressure on gardai and local community resources.”

The presence of a rival off-licence, Carry Out, was also highlighted, with one objector claiming that five off-licences operate within a 1.5km radius of the entrance to Moyross.

However, two of those premises named in the objection are in fact pubs.

Agents for Tesco contended an area of its superstore reserved for an off-licence is “distinctly different” from a standalone off-licence.

“The proposed alcohol sales area is less than 10% of the gross floor area of the unit,” Coimisiún Pleanála stated in a summary of responses to the objections.

“The proposal will not be a destination alcohol retail, but rather the alcohol sales element represents an ancillary part of the general convenience officer.”

On the matter of anti-social behaviour, the agents pointed to a security presence at the supermarket, alongside passive surveillance by staff and physical barriers.

“Strict operational policies particularly in regard to age verification will ensure the operation of the unit will not have a spillover effect onto adjoining public facilities,” they added.

They did state that issues around anti-social behaviour and public safety risks are not “material planning consideration considerations.”

One objector pointed out the presence of a pauper’s graveyard on land adjoining the store, but Tesco’s agents noted no physical works are proposed for that site.