Banbridge retail development set to go ahead

Environment Minister, Angela Smith, today signalled her Department’s intention to approve a major business park, retail warehouse development and factory outlet centre in Banbridge.

The development, on the edge of the town beside the Belfast - Dublin dual carriageway, will provide up to 40,000 sq m of retail warehousing, including a large unit which could accommodate a major international retailer.

“Outline permission was granted in December 2003 and I now have decided that full permission should be granted to a larger development, which includes a 20,000 sq m factory outlet centre,” the Minister confirmed on Friday.

She also welcomed the provision of industrial and business units as part of mixed use development on a 60 hectare site.

The development will include:

• Retail Warehouse Park with a gross floorspace of 47,612 sq metres;
• Factory Outlet Centre comprising a gross floorspace of 19,787 sq metres;
• Business Park comprising general and light industrial and storage and distribution units;
• Alterations to a previously approved hotel, petrol filling station and fast food outlet;

An upgraded road layout at the site will include a new road bridge over A1, slip roads and roundabouts.

Banbridge recently lost out in a bid to provide a base for top furniture and interiors chain Ikea, which looks set to be built near Dublin.

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