Frozen food giant Iceland is expected to be incorporated into a new super-store development by The Range at Banbridge.
The massive new outlet – estimated at a cost in excess of £3 million – has been earmarked for a site at the Bridgewater Retail Park.
It will be located on lands to the east of the existing Tesco store and could create anywhere up to 100 jobs when completed.
A pre-application notice has now been submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
It means a full planning application will follow, but for now the public are being invited to have their say on the ambitious proposals directly with the applicants, who are keen for feedback on what is being proposed.
The planned development is expected to be similar to that at the Meadows Shopping Centre, where Iceland has also been incorporated into the main store.
The pre-application notice for Banbridge has come forward in the name of CDS (Superstores International Ltd), trading as The Range.
It advises of the intention to construct a retail warehouse store including ancillary garden centre.
According to the development proposal: “The scheme will incorporate the existing vacant unit to provide a comprehensive redevelopment of the site, including car parking.”
The store will stretch to in excess of 4,500 sq metres, with an external garden centre close to 700 sq metres.
According to the pre-application notice, the development will be “capable of accommodating the company’s full range of products and including an ancillary café”.
Pre-application consultations traditionally include a public event to allow people to inspect and comment on the plans.
That will not be happening in this case.
According to the applicant: “There will be no physical drop-in event because of restrictions imposed by Covid-19.
“However, as part of the planning process, the company would like to hear your views about the proposal. Further information related to the proposed development and the pre-application consultation can be obtained by visiting the following web site: https://www.therange.co.uk/banbridge-consultation/”
At this stage, comments should not be sent to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council as this is not a formal application.
When The Range submits a formal application there will be an opportunity to make representations on the proposals to ABC Council or the Department at a later stage.
Comments can be submitted by writing to the applicant’s agent, Mark Wood, MWA, 12 The Glenmore Centre, Waterwells Business Park, Gloucester, GL2 0PB.
Representation should be submitted by November 23.
