Lisburn Super Store plan is in doubt

The final decision will be made by Environment Minister Edwin Poots but it is understood planners are recommending it is refused.

The application, submitted by Wildrose (Magheralave) Ltd., sought outline planning permission for a proposed 8,000sq metre outlet - over 86,000 square feet - at the junction of the new road and the Magheralave Road.

It was made an Article 31 application, deeming it to be a major application. But it seems certain the minister will accept the planners' opinion.

Residents in the area were alarmed by the plans, fearing another situation such as that faced by residents close to the Tesco store at Bentrim Road.

One local resident said everyone in the area was shocked by the application.

She commented: "The traffic and noise and whole general disruption caused by a superstore would be a nightmare. It would be 24 hours a day. At the moment I can look out over hedgerows and trees, and it is very peaceful, but that amount of traffic would be a nightmare. It would completely change the nature of why we bought a house here. At the moment you don't hear a car at night, but all that would change."

Local councillors have always been critical of the application with Councillor Jonathan Craig stating: "They would need to get a change of use of the land from residential to commercial; this would create havoc with the planning system; every rule in the book would have to be overturned by the planners to allow this."