Co Down: Matalan proposing new £1.9m store at retail park with the potential to create almost 50 jobs
Retail giant Matalan are currently seeking planning approval for a new £1.9m, 4,104m2 store at Bridgewater Park, which the company says will create 47 jobs.
Should planning permission be granted, the new store will also create 35 additional jobs in the construction sector, with plans to merge units 8 and 9 at Bridgewater Retail Park, to accommodate the new store between The Food Warehouse and B&M Bargains.
Inaltus Limited, acting on behalf of Gortalowry Development Ltd, are seeking permission for the unrestricted sale of retail goods, along with the provision of a mezzanine floor, elevation changes with associated car parking and site works, including a reduction in the Game of Thrones park and ride.
In a Design and Access statement submitted along with the planning application, Inaltus Limited explained: “The application involves the development of an enlarged retail unit which will combine two already constructed units and erection of a new mezzanine floor. This will be the sixth out-of-town Matalan [store] in Northern Ireland.”
The Design and Access Statement goes on to explain why Bridgewater Retail Park, off the A1 outside Banbridge, is being viewed as such a strategic location for Matalan: “As part of Matalan’s growth, they are seeking a new store located on the A1 corridor between Lisburn and the border at Newry, and Bridgewater Retail Park is the optimum location and format for the business.
“It has modern large floorplate units, with high roofs allowing the installation of mezzanine floors, has immediate surface-level car parking, and forms part of an established high-order retail parade with strong and growing footfall levels.
“Matalan’s sales efficiency is low for a comparison retailer. This means that to open a store, the overheads of the site need to be extremely competitive.
“The value goods that Matalan sell are ideally located at Bridgewater Park, as these products will provide a complementary offer to customers that are visiting the Boulevard and Bridgewater Park for discount and value comparison shopping.
“There is currently no Matalan store in the Republic of Ireland, which again makes this proposal for a Matalan store beside the Boulevard an extremely attractive location to capture cross-border shoppers at Banbridge.
“As a large store of over 4,104m2, it will be a significant employer. Matalan have advised that 47 staff would be employed in this store.
“In addition, there will be 35 jobs supported in the construction sector through the installation of the mezzanine floor. This application has full board approval from Matalan and represents an investment in Banbridge of £1.9m.
“The proposal also involves the reduction of the Game of Thrones park and ride car parking as there are now 150 spaces permitted at the Studio Tour site, and there is scope for a reciprocal reduction in park and ride spaces.
“Surface-level car parking will be provided around the site in front of the retail unit and in the Game of Thrones park and ride.
“This application involves merging Units 8 and 9 to form a single unit of 2,052m2 ground floor; the provision of a full cover mezzanine, also of circa 2,052m2; creating a single unit of 4,104m2 gross; the net retail area will be circa 3,692m2; minor amendments to the rear of the units involving changes to access doors; and amendments to the car parking, reducing the Game of Thrones car park to circa 202 spaces, and an associated increase in available retail car parking.”
François Vincent, Local Democracy Reporter