A new outdoor garden centre could soon be putting down roots at Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon.
And B&M Bargains will be the operator of the new facility.
It comes as the budget retailer plans to move into the larger Homebase store, which closed earlier this year.
Proposals have now been drawn up and lodged with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The new garden centre would stretch to around 9,000 sq ft and, according to a supporting statement, would represent a “significant capital investment” of around £200,000.
The supporting statement says it will bring “economic benefits in terms of job creation and investment in the NI economy”.
That, in real terms, would see “approximately six additional employment opportunities” which would be “directly linked to the operation of the external garden centre, with the company adopting a policy of recruiting within the local community”.
The garden centre – external to the B&M store after the move – will “make use of an underused parcel of land” to the rear of existing retail units.
The units in question are the former Homebase and Currys electrical goods store.
The supporting statement adds: “It is impractical and commercially unrealistic to operate an external garden centre within a vacant shop or other unit within a designated centre.
“The external garden centre will contain a range of small trees, plants and shrubs, all of which require natural sunlight/daylight and water to survive.”
It will also see a perimeter steel fence – close to five metres in height – erected around the site to “provide an outdoor display area for garden goods”.
The statement explains: “The proposed garden centre includes the sale of bulky comparison goods which provide a complementary addition to those sold within the B&M store.”
The retailer currently operates from the unit next door to Matalan.
But B&M Bargains has agreed to move into the old Homebase store, which has been vacant since February.
A “disability-compliant pedestrian access” will be provided from the store into the garden centre.
The supporting statement explains the need for the new location and external garden centre.
“B&M Retail Ltd is an established, and still rapidly growing, national retailer, with a significant presence across the UK, and has continued to serve communities as an ‘essential retailer’ throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“B&M are now regarded as an ‘anchor tenant’ for town centres and retail parks throughout the UK, providing quality goods at discount prices, and the proposed garden centre will add to the product range in a sustainable manner.
“Consistent with the company’s continuous focus on improving the quality of its retail offer, it has identified a need to provide an external garden centre as part of its plans to trade from Units 4 & 5.
“Suitable sites must have adequate space for heavy goods storage and racking, loading and unloading, in addition to being able to provide adequate power, water and waste services.
“Typically, areas of between 465 sqm and 929 sqm of existing hardstanding, with specific structural loading requirements/parameters and surface water drainage, are required. This area must be uncovered, and, crucially, have natural sunlight/daylight together with natural rainwater to sustain plants and shrubs which will be displayed.
“Because B&M Retail Ltd do not operate a delivery service, customers are required to take their goods at the point of payment, and this necessitates readily available and convenient access to surface-level car parking which is trolley accessible.”
There would be no change to parking space numbers and, given the nature of the existing building and its layout, “no additional landscaping is currently proposed”.
The application will now be advertised shortly.
