50 JOBS ON WAY TO RIVERSIDE?

The retailer, which already has other stores in Northern Ireland, would take over the last remaining outlet at the out of town shopping complex.

‘Home Bargains’ sells health and beauty products, household goods, food and toys and is owned by TJ Morris Limited.

DUP MLA Adrian McQuillan, who has been in contact with the Managing Director of the company, is urging Planners to give the application the go ahead.

“This company applied to have a store in Coleraine, at the Riverside Regional Centre a number of years ago, but were turned down,” explained Mr McQuillan.

“In this climate, jobs are vital to the area - so I am fully behind this application.

“My understanding is that the company would also be investing £1 million into the local economy as they plan to extend the unit at the Riverside Regional Centre.

“They have assured me that they will use local firms were possible for this, if they get the go ahead.”

The application, which also includes an extension to the existing unit, is currently with the local planning office.

Yesterday the Planning Department told The Times that the town centre would be the ‘prefered location’ for the proposed new store.

In a statement the Department said: “Regional planning policy directs that town centres will be preferred location for such proposals.

“The policy states that the availability of suitable sites within the town centre will be an important consideration where the development is proposed outside the town centre, as is the case in this instance.”

They say that the “agent is currently engaging with the Department to assess the suitability of potential town centre sites,”.

The Department of the Environment statement went on to say that no opinion had been formed on the proposal at this time.