New £3m Eurospar set to create 50 jobs

New £3m Eurospar set to create 50 jobs

14 December 2022

PLANS for a new £3m Eurospar supermarket and filling station in Downpatrick will create 50 new jobs.

A planners’ recommendation to approve the investment proposal by the Henderson Group to redevelop the former St Patrick’s Boys’ Primary School site in the town will be discussed this morning by Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Planning Committee.

The former school site is located at the junction of John Street and St Dillons Avenue and while a number of residents have objected to the development, they accept it will go ahead, but hope that a number of road safety issues they have highlighted will be addressed.

The grocery giant’s major development proposal includes a petrol station, one retail unit, canopy, food outlet and car park at the former school site which also borders the Ardglass Road.

A proposal to develop the brownfield site — which adjoins playing fields, housing and St Mary’s High School — was submitted to local planners in October 2020 and also features a jet wash, ATM and parking for up to 53 vehicles, with an additional six beside the petrol pumps.

Future provision is also being made for space to charge electric vehicles at the proposed new garage.

Twenty one objections to the proposed investment were lodged with planners with the issues raised including traffic congestion, road safety, flooding issues, noise and lighting disturbance.

The retail unit would have a gross floorspace of 519 square metres, while the hot food unit will be  84 square metres, while the forecourt will be a three-pump island design and the planned canopy standing just over six metres high and 24 metres wide.

Access to the proposed new supermarket will be via the Ardglass Road with exit on to John Street, with a pedestrian access on to St Dillon’s Avenue. A controlled pedestrian crossing is also to be provided at the Ardglass Road, close to St Mary’s High School.

Planners say it is considered that the supermarket proposal will not result in any “significant or unacceptable residential impact” .

Ahead of today’s planning meeting, the Henderson Group said that in addition to the 50 new full and part-time jobs the Downpatrick investment will create, a similar number of jobs in the construction sector would be maintained during the installation of the store.

The proposed Ardglass Road retail development is to replace a smaller existing Spar operation at nearby Edward Street.

The store’s existing retailer, Martin Connolly, says he has worked with the Henderson Group for many years and thinks the new development will be “great for the area”. 

He continued: “People are increasingly shopping local and more often and I know from my experience that there is a real need for a new and improved shop to serve the local community.”

The Henderson Group says its investment represents sustainable development for the regeneration of an edge of centre, brownfield site on an arterial route into and out of Downpatrick.

Mark Adrain, the company’s property director, said the proposal is in the urban area and will serve a local population working, visiting and living in the catchment and is accessible by a range of modes of transport including cycling and walking.

Downpatrick councillor Gareth Sharvin, who will raise residents’ concerns at today’s planning meeting, says they are concerned about the proposed access and exit from the planned supermarket.

In relation to a proposed low wall and railing on the St Dillon’s Avenue side of the development, Cllr Sharvin will tell the Planning Committee that this will not reduce the impact of car lights shining into adjoining homes.

He suggests the addition of a hedgerow along this side of the development would reduce the impact of vehicle lights on the houses.

Cllr Sharvin said residents were keen to see the proposed pedestrian entrance from St Dillion’s Avenue closed off, suggesting it has the potential to encourage drivers to park in the area and “further increase the already challenging conditions along this road.”

He said residents were also keen for restrictions on times for the visit of delivery lorries to reduce noice pollution 

during what he described as “night hours”.

He added: “Residents accept that the likelihood of this development going ahead is high, but feel that their requests will reduce the impact of the proposed new supermarket and filling station on their properties.”