Towering plans for Ballymena

THE Tower Centre is set for a major new expansion with the rumour mill going into overdrive over who will be the new tenants set to open in the new unit.

Plans seen by the Times reveal an ambitious new project which will focus on the Albert Place/Mill Street entrance to the centre.

The plans, which have been submitted in recent weeks, show that the existing office units facing Albert Place will be demolished with a new build plan that will take over the existings steps leading into the centre.

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The former outside toilet block and as far as the existing service yard at Albert Place will also be taken up in the new plans.

Stores including Dorothy Perkins, Motability, Priceless Shoes, the former Gems Jewellers, Half Price Jewellers, Thorntons, New Look and the recently opened Poundland shop will all be swallowed up by the plans.

Rumours had been circulating that John Lewis were in line to be the major new anchor unit as part of the Tower Centre's expansion.

However, following enquiries by the Times, a spokesperson ruled out the option of John Lewis coming to Ballymena, adding that the company were instead fully committed to opeing their first store in Northern Ireland at Sprucefield in Lisburn.

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"John Lewis is often linked to new retail led developments, however, we have no plans for Ballymena," the spokesperson said.

She added: "We remain firm in our belief that Sprucefield is the only location in Northern Ireland that is capable of supporting a full line John Lewis department store."

Meanwhile, The Tower Centre's plans for the new unit will see a new frontage onto Wellington Street as well as a new-build three-storey high structure facing onto Mill Street/Albert Place.

The toilet facilities within the shopping centre will be relocated to a new block which will be built adjacent to the B&M store.

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In the design concept statement submitted by Wildrose Properties - the Tower Centre's landlord - it proposes that the new extension onto Albert Place/Mill Street will be conceived of as a modern three-storey structure, allowing for expansion of the retail floor space of the existing Tower Centre.

"The extension will house several large-space retail outlets over two levels, with a lower floor created to allow level access to the new units from the internal mall; this floor providing shop display frontage to Mill Street," the design concept statement says.

It is added: "An active frontage directly onto Mill Street has been incorporated with a large shop display window proposed at the lower floor level."

"Also, in order to strengthen the junction between Mill Street and Albert Place, a feature tower (with lifts and stairs) clad in red brick and vertical openings has been introduced."

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The plans reveal that the rest of the building will be clad with Trespa panels in two shades of grey and arranged in a vertical manner to reflect the strong verticality of adjacent buildings.

The proposed building line has been stepped back from the line of the existing footpath to allow for a new landscaped area to soften the streetscape on Mill Street.

In terms of scale, the proposed building rises no higher than the highest ridge-line in the existing block and the top floor will be stepped back to defer to the height of the neighbouring building at 57-59 Wellington Street.

The Times contacted the Tower Centre to discuss the new plans but no one was available for comment before we went to print.

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The planning application is with planning staff at County Hall. The application will now be subject to: neighbour notification, advertising, consultation with statutory agencies, and if necessary, other organisations and a site inspection.

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