December date for new Newtownabbey Asda plan hearing by council

A “pre-determination” hearing by Antrim and Newtownabbey’s Planning Committee on a new Asda supermarket for Monkstown will take place early next month.
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The hearing will take place remotely at Mossley Mill on December 3.

Plans for the new supermarket at Monkstown Industrial Estate were dramatically halted in August after the Department for Infrastructure served a direction order with the effect that the council could not proceed to grant planning permission until further advised by the Department.

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The intervention by a Stormont department over a planning application for a new Asda store was  described by DUP Councillor Mark Cooper as “totally unacceptable”.

Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey.Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey.
Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey.

Asda said that while the company was “disappointed” that the application had been deferred,it will “continue to work with all concerned to successfully progress plans for a new store in Newtownabbey”.

The Department has since reverted the decision back to the council.

It will focus on planning considerations in greater detail  and will allow more time for members to hear the views of and to question interested parties.

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However, no decision will be taken on the application at this meeting.

The supermarket chain is seeking planning permission for demolition of the former Nortel factory which closed in 2009 and construction of a new 70,000 sq ft food store, filling station and car park at Doagh Road through a £17.5m investment.

Planning approval has been recommended for the development.

The long-running application was submitted to the borough council in September 2018. The company has indicated that the development would lead to the creation of 100 construction jobs and 258 full-time posts in-store, generating £4.37m in salaries.

Retail NI has urged councillors to reject the application amid fears over the potential impact on local traders and existing retail jobs in the area.

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The business group said it had written to the Department for Infrastructure “citing concerns that this application may be granted for political reasons, rather than complying with prevailing regional planning policy”.

Seventeen letters of objection have been received including three from retail businesses and four from local residents.

A letter of support has been received from East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson.

According to the report presented to councillors, a retail audit carried out by Nexus Planning on behalf of the council concluded the “catchment area identified is both realistic and proportionate for the development proposed”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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Click here to read: New retail units and 40 apartments proposed for Glengormley

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