A County Armagh plastics manufacturing company is planning a huge multi-million redevelopment of its Lurgan base.
And the move by Radius Plastics – based at the Halfpenny Valley Industrial Estate on Parkview Street – is expected to deliver a major jobs boost for Upper Bann.
Radius Plastics has been a key employer in the area for over 50 years, having been founded in 1969.
And next month the company will unveil its intentions to open a major new chapter in its history.
A pre-application notice has been submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
Such a notice is lodged when the proposed development falls within the ‘major’ category, which gives an indication of the investment and scale of what is being planned.
The new development would result in facilities with an expansive floorspace stretching to close to 72,500 sq ft.
The works will be unveiled at a public event to be held at the company’s Lurgan base during the second week in February.
A new industrial and storage development is being proposed.
This would involve a part change of use of the existing factory from storage and distribution to manufacturing for “general industry”.
The works would also involve the construction of an extension to the existing factory, as well as a new detached storage and distribution warehouse.
The overall site would also be extended to provide external storage space and HGV parking, as well as all associated plant, parking and siteworks.
More details will be revealed at next month’s public exhibition, when interested parties will have the chance to have their say.
Notification leaflets will also be sent to all residents and neighbouring properties within 200 metres of the proposed development site. These will be sent out at the end of January.
According to Radius Plastics own website, the company has, since 1969, “developed and manufactured innovative plastic pipeline solutions for the gas industry and these solutions are now commonly used in the water, wastewater, energy & power, district heating and telecoms sectors”.
It adds: “We work closely with our customers to develop tailored solutions to meet the demanding needs of today’s construction and utility industries, with safety and quality at the top of our priorities to deliver products for today and tomorrow’s pipeline challenges.”
The pre-application notice has been deemed acceptable by ABC Council.
The feedback from the public exhibition event will then be used by the company to shape an application for full planning permission, which would follow at a future date.
This is the second major redevelopment proposal by a long-standing company in Upper Bann which we have reported on in recent days.
Earlier this week, Armagh I revealed the submission of a pre-application notice by Glanbia Cheese Ltd for a redeveloped site with a floorspace of up to 65,000 sq ft at its Magheralin base.
It pointed to the “redevelopment of the existing cheese factory”, with works to include “partial demolition, alterations and erection of extensions, weighbridge, pipebridges, tanks and plant, associated access and parking arrangements”.
It indicated “temporary works” would also be carried out on an area to the south of the site to be “restored to agricultural land on completion of the development”, with a community consultation event to provide more informaton scheduled to take place in Magheralin Parish Church early next month.
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