Former PSNI station in Moira to reopen as SuperValu in New Year

The major development in the centre of Moira comes under the independent owners, the ‘Poole’ family.

SuperValu is part of the Musgrave Group, Ireland’s largest grocery and food distributor, with 192 independently owned stores, according to its website.

A spokesperson for Musgrave Northern Ireland said: "Musgrave Northern Ireland is gearing up to welcome the brand-new SuperValu store in Moira, which is set to open in early February.

“Owned and operated by experienced retailers, the Poole family, the new 8,600 sq ft SuperValu will replace the existing store and provide customers with a modern, improved shopping environment.

“Popular services including the petrol forecourt and Post Office will be retained, alongside an extensive range of convenient food-to-go options, including a large hot deli, fresh sandwich bar, and a selection of hot and cold grab-and-go choices, as well as the Frank and Honest coffee dock, and off-licence.

“New self-scan checkouts will also offer shoppers greater convenience at the till.

“An extended car park will provide additional spaces for customers.

“Sustainability will be central to the new store, with energy-efficient CO2 refrigeration, highly efficient freezers and LED lighting, alongside solar panels.”

The site located on Main Street, Moira, currently contains an existing SuperValu store, a vacant retail unit and the former PSNI site currently used as a car park associated with the retail units.

The NI Planning Portal provides further details on the “demolition of the existing retail units” to make way for a replacement retail unit and two lettable hot food units.

Musgrave Northern Ireland retail sales director David Higgins said: “This new store will be an asset to the community, delivering convenience and great value across a wide variety of everyday products.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with the Poole family into the future.”

Traffic concerns were previously raised at Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s planning committee, however these were said to be alleviated by a new parking layout.

The chamber was told that an overall increase or “cumulative” traffic assessment in Moira had not been carried out as the additional traffic was viewed in the report as “modest with a small impact”.

At the time a council officer said: “This has been a challenge for planning officers.

“We are aware and accept that there is a significant problem with peak traffic flows in Moira.

“Forestside (retail park) has had a similar loss of spaces. I don’t see any challenges with parking in this type of development.

“There will now be a use of an entrance and exit in a more rational layout than before and parking will be done with a better arrangement. There is also on-street parking available.”

Tragically the Poole family lost one of its long term dedicated and valued team members this week when Linda Mitchell, from Hillsborough, passed away at her home on Saturday, November 7.

Linda had worked at Poole’s SuperValu in Moira for more than 20 years.

Her funeral service was due to be on Friday November 13 in Royal Hillsborough Presbyterian Church.