New Tesco Superstore approved for Newtownards
Published on Mon, 30 Nov 2009
Environment Minister, Edwin Poots today announced his decision to approve plans for a new Tesco Superstore in Newtownards.
The proposed new food store will help rejuvenate the area of the former Ards Abattoir, bringing not only a modern food and convenience goods outlet, but also much needed economic investment.
Speaking after a visit to the site the Minister said:
"This approval will provide construction jobs along with the £18m investment in the immediate future, and secure some 200 permanent retail jobs. This is another fine example what can be gained from engaging in pre-application discussions where key issues can be identified at an early stage allowing the application to pass through the statutory planning process quickly.”
The application was processed within 5 months by the Strategic Projects Team at Planning Service Headquarters following pre-application discussions.
Gary Mills, director for Tesco in Northern Ireland, said:
"We are delighted that this store, which will bring with it up to 200 new high-quality, flexible jobs for Newtownards, has been given approval. It is also excellent news for the construction industry as this development will create employment for around 200 people in the building trade over a 12 – 18 month period, which I imagine will be welcome news for the industry in the run-up to Christmas. We are grateful to Planning Service and the Minister as we know that a planning application for a store this size is a huge piece of work, and we appreciate the speed at which this development has been processed through the pre-application route which has resulted in this very welcome approval."
Notes for Editors
- The planning application was submitted on 10 July 2009 by Tesco Stores Ltd and Castlebawn Ltd.
- The application is for full planning permission for a Tesco Superstore (8175sqm gross), of which 5664 sqm is net retail floorspace including 3723 sqm to be allocated to the sale of convenience goods and 1941 sq metres floorspace for comparison sales. In addition, a petrol filling station, car parking and associated site works with access from the Southern Link Road. In total an additional 8245 sq metres gross floorspace is proposed. Parking provision is made for 1034 parking spaces in total.
- Article 31 of the Planning (NI) Order was applied on 27 July 2009 on the grounds that the proposal would, if permitted, affect the whole of a neighbourhood.
- The site is located to the west of the Portaferry Road, Newtownards and consists of 8.0 hectares of brownfield land. The site was formerly the Ards Abattoir and is currently disused.
- The application site forms part of the overall Castlebawn Development, which currently has planning approval for a mixed use development including retail warehousing, leisure and business park, car parking, new road infrastructure and a pedestrian access to the development from Court Street. It is within 300m of the town centre boundary and is therefore being considered as an Edge of Centre location.
- 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.
