Council rejects Lidl's plan for Classic Cinema

Dublin City Council has vetoed a proposal by German discount retailer Lidl to build apartments and a food store on the site of the Classic Cinema in Harolds Cross, Dublin 6W.

Lidl was looking to demolish the 1950s cinema and build a four-storey block of 18 apartments with balconies and a landscaped internal communal courtyard and a 506sq m (5,447sq ft) supermarket with 27 car-parking spaces.

Dublin City Council says the proposal would constitute overdevelopment of the site and would "injure the amenities" of future residents of the apartments and of adjoining properties.

It also said there would be an "unacceptable level of overlooking" from the apartments to adjoining properties.

The two-screen Classic Cinema closed its doors in 2003 after 27 years in business.

It was initially owned by the now defunct Sundrive Cinemas Group and opened its doors as the Kenilworth.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show ran there in the late Friday night slot for 21 years.

Lidl was recently granted planning permission for a neighbourhood centre and gym in Rathfarnham, south Dublin.

It was the German discounter's third application relating to the former GlaxoSmithKline site on Grange Road.

An Bord Pleanála rejected residents' protests against proposals for a 1,735sq m (18,675sq ft) foodstore, five shops totalling 964sq m (10,376sq ft), a first-floor sports club of 2,130sq m (22,927sq ft) and 222 car-parking spaces.