Retail NI cites Monkstown plan in moratorium on out-of-town superstores call

Planning approval for the 40,000 square feet development on the former Nortel plant site was granted by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council earlier this week.

The project, which the retailer says will lead to the creation of 250 jobs, includes, a filling station and a car park with 450 spaces.

Council heard that the “benefit of the jobs created will outweigh the loss of industrial business use of the site”.

However, Glyn Roberts, Retail NI chief executive, described the decision as “a kick in the teeth for local independent retailers”.

And he returned to the theme during a presentation to the Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee outlining policy priorities to support high street recovery, including a five-year moratorium on new out-of-town superstores as is being proposed in Scotland.

Mr Roberts said: “The Department for Infrastructure has a key role to play in supporting post-pandemic high street recovery and ensuring our towns and city centres are greener, healthier and more inclusive places. Public transport needs to be shoppers’ first choice, rather than their last, alongside more options for walking, cycling and accessible and affordable car parking in our town centres.

“In order to give our town centres space to recover and regenerate, Retail NI wants Northern Ireland to follow Scotland’s lead and introduce a five-year moratorium on any more out-of-town superstores. The appalling decision this week by Antrim Newtownabbey Council to grant permission for a major superstore, despite the breach in town centre first planning and the damage it will do to local jobs, has re-enforced the need for this moratorium.

“Retail NI also supports the call for establishing an infrastructure commission, devolving on-street carparking to councils, a sixty-minute rail service between Belfast and Dublin and a recommitment to the York Street Interchange and other flagship projects.

“A rural town infrastructure investment fund should also be introduced to support the revitalisation of our villages and towns in post-pandemic recovery efforts alongside the City and Growth deals.”

Following Monday evening’s council decision, Asda said it was delighted to have received planning permission. A spokesperson added: “The process has been lengthy, reflecting the careful assessments carried out by the council, its officers and independent advisers.

“The planning committee’s decision follows the overwhelming support for the development which we received during our public consultation.” Click here to read more

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers. Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.