The planning appeals body decided that no sustainable argument had been made to establish the need. With Longford having a population of just over 7,000 people, the board found that existing retailers, including Spar and Tesco, could meet consumer demand. The decision was also in"uenced by Longford Town Council having granted permission earlier this year for a large anchor store and 21 retail units in the town centre.

An Bord Pleanala did give Flancare the go-ahead to develop a warehouse retail unit with an adjoining 800sq m (8,600sq ft) garden centre and a retail hardware store with of"ces and showroom on another part of the site, between the Roscommon and Athlone roads leading out of Longford town.

Flancare's core business is delivering goods to multiples such as Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Superquinn, but in recent years has applied for and been granted a number of planning permissions to develop this 70-acre site.

Permission has been granted for a hotel, 220 residential units, two petrol stations, car showrooms, light industrial units, 7,000sq m of of"ces, a creche, drivethrough restaurant and retail warehousing.