Tesco and RGDATA, the Irish independent grocers' organisation, don't usually find themselves agreeing, but both are contesting planning permission granted for a 30,000 sq ft supermarket on Donegal Town's outskirts. Leading Irish developer Christopher Bennett & Son has had the project, part of a large commercial develop-ment, sanctioned by Donegal County Council. There is speculation Dunnes Stores might become the anchor tenant. Tesco and the grocers' body have lodged appeals with the Irish Planning Board seeking to have the permission revoked. Tesco claims that insufficient information on the store plan was given to the county council to enable it to make "an informed decision". No retail assessment had been carried out, it says, on how the development would affect existing businesses, particularly in the town centre. That is a legal requirement. It points out that a similar planning permission is with the council for a mixed development, including a food store, on another Donegal Town site. That application, it claims, includes proper assessments. An Irish Planning Board spokesman said it would deliver its verdict by the end of next month. {{NEWS }}

Topics