The planned Dublin MetroLink would involve the demolition of a Smyths Toys Superstore outlet at the Airside Retail Park in Swords in north Dublin.
In a submission to An Bord Pleanála on the draft Railway Order for the MetroLink, a Smyths Toys Superstores submission says that under it "the existing store would need to be demolished".
The toy retailer has told the appeals board that an alternative site for the existing store has not been identified in the planning report for the MetroLink.
As part of a 11-page submission on the draft Railway Order, planning consultant for Smyths Toys Superstores, Robert Nowlan contends that the draft order should not be confirmed in the absence of the identification of an alternative site for the store that it is proposed would be demolished.
Mr Nowlan of RW Nowlan & Associates says that the Smyths Toy Superstore outlet at the Airside Retail Park employs 50 and can increase to 90 employees at peak times.
He states that it has a floor area of 2,600 sq metres on the ground floor with a mezzanine floor of 700 sq metres.
He contends that the "potential loss to Smyths Toys of the store would have major implications for servicing this strategic area".
Mr Nowlan says that the current Smyths store was a replacement for a previous Smyths outlet as the former outlet was not able to meet customer demand due to its size.
Trading in the current premises commenced in 2015 and Mr Nowlan claims that market research commissioned by the firm has found that there is currently no suitable vacant location available within the population catchment area which can cater for the level of trade generated in the Airside Retail Park to various limitations.
Mr Nowlan contends that the proposed Railway Order and accompanying planning report are deficient as no provision is made in the proposed Railway Order for a relocation or replacement of the existing Smyths store.
The planning consultant claims that the proposed demolition of the Smyths Toys Superstore outlet materially contravene a zoning objective in the current and draft Fingal County Development Plan.
Mr Nowlan states that "it is essential for Smyths Toys Superstores business that a replacement site be found in the vicinity of the current site".
He says that "this is not adequately addressed in the Railway Order".
The family owned Smyths Toys is one of the country’s most successful businesses and revenues at the Galway headquartered firm across its Ireland and the UK operations passed the €1 billion mark for the first time in 2021.
An Bord Pleanála is due to make a decision on the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) draft railway order in May.
