Lidl is poised to unveil plans for another store in a second County Tyrone town.
For the retailer has started the ball rolling as it aims to develop on the site of the former police station in Castlederg, after earlier lodging papers to open a new outlet at Coalisland.
The Castlederg PSNI base, on the Castlefin Road, was closed in September 2014.
And in September last year, the substantial property was being advertised for sale with an asking price in the region of £375,000.
Lidl has now signalled its intent with the submission of a pre-application notice to Derry City and Strabane District Council.
As such, the new store would be deemed to fall within the ‘major’ category, requiring a public consultation before proceeding further.
More details will, therefore, be unveiled next month.
Lidl’s plans for the site involve the demolition of the existing buildings and construction of a new “discount foodstore”, with floorspace stretching to just in excess of 20,000 sq.
Works would also involve the provision of associated parking, access and landscaping.
A drop-in event for the public is due to take place at the Derg Valley Leisure Centre, on the Strabane Road, on Monday, September 14, from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
Preliminary drawings of what is being proposed will be on display and interested parties can discuss plans with members of the project team and provide feedback.
A website will also go live on September 3, which will once again provide details and allow interested parties to leave comments until October 5, ahead of the submission of an application seeking full planning permission to proceed.
All properties living or trading within 90 metres of the site boundary will receive a letter with the website address, details of the proposed development and of the planned consultation event in advance of it being held.
The move by Lidl comes mere months after the retailer confirmed its intention to develop a new store on the Washingbay Road in Coalisland.
That is currently working through the planning process, with a pre-application notice made to Mid-Ulster District Council.
Armagh I first revealed plans for the store in Coalisland at the end of May, for a development costing in the region of £7 million and one which would create around 35 jobs.
The new Lidl earmarked for Coalisland – if given the go-ahead – would boast floorspace of just over 16,000 sq ft, with images indicating no plans for a cafe, but giving rise to speculation that Castlederg might have that ‘added extra’ given the significant difference in what is being proposed in terms of size.
