The award-winning Lotus Group is hoping to build a new headquarters complex in Banbridge – together with storage and distribution facilities – at an estimated cost of £15 million.
The company is currently based at Newry Road, Banbridge.
Now it is hoped to build a new state-of-the-art development on an edge-of-town site.
The property investment and asset management company has set its sights on a huge investment at the Co Down location.
The development would include a new headquarters for its building contract firm, with storage and distribution, together with offices – and all associated siteworks, car parking and landscaping – included.
The company has this week lodged a pre-application public consultation notice with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The development would represent a huge investment, estimated by Construction Information Services to be in the region of £15 million.
The exact location is described as being on lands 100 metres north east of the Home Bargains store at Bridgewater Retail Park.
Local political representatives on ABC Council – as well as the five Upper Bann MLAs which includes Economy Minister Diane Dodds – have been notified directly.
According to the pre-application notice, it will not be possible to have a physical public consultation event due to the current Covid-19 guidelines on social distancing.
So for that reason, the Lotus Group is to make public its intentions online.
It will be conducted remotely using online, digital and remote tools to allow people to view, discuss and give feedback which the Lotus Group will then use to help finalise proposals.
For five weeks – starting from Monday, March 1 – a dedicated webpage will be up and running.
According to the pre-application notice: “Information can also be supplied by email or post to any interested persons. Detailed information relating to the proposal can be obtained by visiting www.bridgewaterbusinesspark.com, by calling (028) 9043 4333, by emailing info@tsaplanning.co.uk or by writing to TSA Planning, 20 May Street, Belfast, BT1 4NL.
“If you wish to make comments on the proposal you may do so to TSA Planning using the contact methods/details above no later than 5pm on Monday 12th April 2021.”
It should be stressed that this is a pre-application event so no formal representations will be made at this time.
The Lotus Group – having considered the responses – is expected to make an application seeking full planning permission at a later date.
