Environment Minister approves new Sainsbury’s store for Bangor
Published on Mon, 8 Feb 2010
Environment Minister Edwin Poots today announced his decision to approve plans for a new Sainsbury’s store at Balloo Retail Park in Bangor.
Minister Poots said: “This approval will see the development of a new modern store and will be a welcome boost in terms of job creation with approximately 350 full and part time jobs.”
The application is for part demolition of existing buildings and structures and the construction of a new retail store, extension and reconfiguration of the existing retail warehouse unit and garden centre, including installation of a replacement mezzanine floor; provision of two retail warehouse units and associated highway, footpath, landscape and other works and improvements.
It is the eighth major planning application approved by the Environment Minister in the past twelve months.
Chris Templeman, Head of Property Development, at Sainsbury’s said, “We are delighted with the Department’s decision to grant planning permission for this proposal. The Bangor development represents a multi-million pound investment which includes the provision of a new Sainsbury’s store and a refurbished Homebase. Throughout the application process we took part in a comprehensive dialogue with Planning Service. We are grateful for the Department’s positive engagement which has helped the application to progress to this stage.
"This development is great news for the local economy in terms of job creation and an additional Sainsbury’s store means increased business for our local suppliers."
Keri McAnea of Turley Associates, who were the planning consultants engaged on this scheme, said: “We are delighted with the Department’s decision to grant planning permission for the proposal which is great news for the local economy in terms of job creation and further spin off benefits."
Ian Jones, Retail Operations Director for Homebase added: “Homebase has been very happy at Balloo Retail Park - this is great news and we welcome Sainsbury’s arrival which will add to the park’s attraction.”
Notes to editors:
1.The application was submitted on 23 December 2008 by Morgan Estates Ltd and Sainsbury’s. A transport Assessment was received on 27 February 2009.
2.It was designated as a major application under Article 31 of the Planning (NI) Order 1991 on 16 February 2009.
3.Article 31 Planning Applications are "major" planning applications, designated under article 31 of the Planning Order, that are deemed of strategic or economic significance, or are of a scale or nature that may have a significant environmental impact.
4.Some of the Article 31s the team has processed in the past twelve months are; Magheramorne Quarry (£100million), Down High School, Northcott Shopping Centre (£35million), Hilden Mill (£100million), and the Dairy Farm Shopping Centre (£25million).
5.The application was processed by the Strategic Projects team at Planning Service Headquarters.
6. For media enquiries contact DOE Press Office tel. 028 9054 0003 or out of office hours call the EIS Duty Press Officer on 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.
