Planning news
Decision to grant issued for Lidl Shannon store redevelopment
Clare County Council issued a Notification of Decision to Grant Permission for demolition and rebuild of the Lidl Discount Foodstore (Pl. Ref. No. 25/60699) on 13th August 2026. The existing Lidl store is located at the Shannon Town Centre. The Lidl Shannon store is one of the oldest operating Lidl stores in Ireland and no longer reflects contemporary retail standards, customer expectations or the current Lidl store format. For these reasons, the project to demolish the existing store and rebuild a modern store on the site was brought forward. Throughout the changing economic conditions and retail market fluctuations, the existing Lidl store has remained a successful and reliable destination for the day-to-day shopping needs of the residents of Shannon and the surrounding community.
The permission sought is to relocate the new store on the site in a more appropriate location to facilitate improvements to the site layout by way of car parking layout, site access and interface with the surrounding Shannon Town Centre uses. The overarching piece of planning policy that informed the design is the Shannon Town Masterplan published by Clare County Council and sets out the overarching vision which seeks to deliver a vibrant, viable and sustainable town centre. The proposal seeks to retain a long-standing, successful retailer within the Shannon Town Centre whilst achieving an exemplar Lidl store design having regard to the civic, public spaces and future land uses interfacing with the subject site.
Our Planning, Ecology and Environmental teams worked alongside Lidl’s multidisciplinary design team. The appeal period will expire in early September 2026.
Planning approval secured for Kingston Park and Millers Lane Public Realm Project
MKO is delighted to share that An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved the Kingston Park and Millers Lane Public Realm Project on behalf of Galway City Council. MKO is proud to have supported Galway City Council in progressing this landmark project from its initial concept through to the successful grant of planning permission.
Planning permission secured for residential development at Charlestown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Westmeath County Council issued a Notification of Decision to Grant Permission for 71 no. residential dwellings (Pl. Ref. No. 25/60563) on the 28th August 2026. The residential development is located at Charlestown, Mullingar Co. Westmeath, approximately 2.5km west of the Mullingar town centre and adjoining the Royal Canal. The permission sought is to establish a residential development providing a mix of unit types to meet the housing needs of the surrounding Mullingar community on a site that is afforded a significant open space designation connected to the Royal Canal and providing functional open space for people of all ages. The built form is commensurate with the emerging residential units on the outskirts of Mullingar comprising a mix of two and three storey residential dwellings and duplexes. Extensive permeability has been provided, connecting the subject site to the adjoining lands, to residential zoned lands to the east and west and to the Royal Canal at the southern boundary, promoting active transport connectivity.
The layout of the proposal has been designed having regarding to the site-specific environmental and ecological matters and has sought to retain existing vegetation and hedgerows along boundaries and within the designated open space.
MKO and the Applicant engaged in collaborative consultation with the planning and roads engineering teams at Westmeath County Council throughout the planning application assessment process. The Applicant was open to taking on board the layout and design feedback from the planning authority, which contributed to the favourable decision.
Our Planning, Environmental and Acoustics teams worked alongside O’Neill O’Malley Architecture and AGF Consulting Engineers.
Renewables news
Half of Ireland’s electricity now comes from renewable sources
Ireland is continuing to make progress in its transition towards cleaner energy, with almost half of all electricity generated in the country coming from renewable sources in 2025, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Renewable sources accounted for 49.2% of Ireland’s total electricity generation last year, marking another significant step in the country’s efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Wind energy was the main contributor, reflecting the growing importance of Ireland’s wind resources to the national electricity system.
The figures also demonstrate how much renewable generation can contribute at times of strong wind conditions. On 23 February 2025, renewable sources supplied 86% of Ireland’s electricity generation, showing the potential for renewables to meet a substantial proportion of national electricity demand.
The continued growth of renewable electricity is important not only from a climate perspective but also for Ireland’s energy security. Increasing domestic generation from wind and other renewable sources can help reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, while supporting progress towards Ireland’s emissions-reduction and climate targets.
Delays raise concerns over Ireland’s offshore wind ambitions
Ireland’s plans to expand offshore wind energy are facing renewed scrutiny following criticism of the country’s marine planning and consenting system. The Minister for the Environment has raised concerns about delays within the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), as developers continue to wait for decisions needed to progress major offshore wind projects.
MARA plays a central role in Ireland’s offshore renewable-energy programme, including the assessment and granting of maritime area consents. These approvals are an important part of the process before offshore wind developments can move through the wider planning and development stages.
The delays have prompted concerns about whether the regulator has sufficient resources and capacity to deal with the growing volume and complexity of applications. The Minister has described the situation as a significant performance issue, highlighting the need for the regulatory system to operate more efficiently if Ireland is to meet its renewable-energy ambitions.
The issue is particularly important given the increasing role expected of offshore wind in Ireland’s future energy mix. Ireland has significant offshore wind potential, but bringing projects from the development stage to construction requires coordination between developers, regulators, Government departments and planning authorities. Delays at any stage can have knock-on effects for project timelines, investment decisions and Ireland’s ability to deliver additional renewable electricity.
The concerns come at a time when Ireland is making clear progress in renewable electricity generation. Recent CSO figures show that renewable sources accounted for almost half of Ireland’s electricity generation in 2025, with wind energy making the largest contribution.
For Ireland to continue increasing the share of renewable electricity, the development of new infrastructure will be critical. Offshore wind could make a particularly important contribution, but the sector will depend on a regulatory framework that can provide timely decisions while maintaining appropriate environmental and planning standards.
Policy and legislation
Planning and Development Act 2024 – New Planning Framework to Commence
The 30th of September 2026 will mark a significant milestone for Ireland’s planning system, with the remaining provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024 due to commence and the new legislative framework beginning to replace the long-standing Planning and Development Act 2000. The 2024 Act represents a major overhaul of Ireland’s planning legislation, following a comprehensive review of the existing planning system. The legislation is intended to create a more efficient, consistent and predictable planning process, while providing greater certainty for applicants, developers, planning authorities and communities.
One of the key objectives of the new legislation is to improve the delivery of development and infrastructure by introducing clearer processes and statutory timelines for decision-making. This is particularly relevant to housing, renewable energy and critical infrastructure projects, where delays in the planning process can have significant implications for delivery, investment and project viability.
The new Act also introduces a number of important changes to the structure and operation of the planning system. These include reforms to the role and operation of An Coimisiún Pleanála, changes to planning application and appeal processes, and the introduction of National Planning Statements, which will provide a clearer framework for national priorities of strategic importance to the planning system.
For planning practitioners and applicants, the transition to the new legislation will be particularly important. The commencement of the Act will require stakeholders to become familiar with new terminology, procedures, timelines and requirements. Planning authorities and other relevant bodies will also need to adapt their processes to ensure applications can transition effectively into the new statutory framework.
The Government has recognised that the scale of the legislative change requires careful management of the transition from the 2000 Act. A Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill has been progressed to provide technical amendments arising from the commencement of the 2024 Act and to support the transition between the two legislative frameworks.
For the development industry, the changes represent an important opportunity to improve the overall efficiency of the planning system. A more predictable planning process has the potential to provide greater certainty around project programmes, investment decisions and development delivery.
However, the success of the new framework will depend not only on the legislation itself but also on its effective implementation and resourcing across the planning system. As Ireland continues to face significant demand for housing, renewable energy and infrastructure, the ability of the planning system to process applications efficiently while maintaining robust environmental and planning standards will remain critical.
At MKO, we will continue to monitor the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024 and the associated regulations and guidance, and will keep our clients and stakeholders informed of the implications for current and future development proposals.
The commencement of the Act on the 30th September 2026 represents a new chapter for planning and development in Ireland, with the coming months expected to be an important period of transition as the new framework becomes embedded across the sector.
Public consultations
Kildare County Council: Proposed Variation No.7 (Monasterevin Settlement Plan) of the Kildare County Development Plan 2023 – 2029. A copy of Proposed Variation No. 7 (Monasterevin Settlement Plan) and supporting documents may be inspected from Tuesday 1st September 2026 to Tuesday 29th September 2026.