Traffic lights proposal for Asda store entrance

Traffic lights proposal for Asda store entrance

6 November 2024

NEW traffic lights will be erected at the entrance to the Downe Retail Park in Downpatrick where £22m is being invested in a new Asda store, filling station and four retail units.

There have been a series of accidents over recent years at the Ballydugan Road entrance to the retail park with the new traffic lights designed to make the junction safer.

News of the road safety improvement will be confirmed at this morning’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Planning Committee when plans for the £22m investment will be formally approved.

Councillors will also be told that the multi-million pound investment has the potential to support up to 150 construction jobs.

The planning application has been lodged by Celpark Limited, a subsidiary of the Comer Group which has a significant presence in a number of European cities.

Planners have given the green light for the biggest ever retail investment in the town with work on the multi-million pound redevelopment — which will create an additional 40 new jobs — scheduled to start in the New Year, with construction work taking up to a year to complete.

The existing store — which closed last year due to major structural issues after the worst flooding in living memory — will be bulldozed to pave the way for an ultra-modern replacement which will be almost 680 square metres bigger.

The new store will be built slightly south east east of the current building with the footprint covering land currently occupied by the Harry Corry, Peacocks and Poundstretcher stores and the car park in front of them. 

These buildings will also be demolished.

In planning papers submitted ahead of today’s meeting, it is confirmed that last November’s flood which swamped Downpatrick town centre caused substantial damage to the existing Asda store with structural issues deemed a major health and safety hazard.

A detailed engineering assessment concluded the store had to be closed permanently and replaced with a new building.

In addition, the engineering report highlighted issues with the nearby Harry Corry, Peacocks and Poundstretcher stores which will also be bulldozed.

The planning papers say the applicant “recognises the importance” of replacing the stores in maintaining the vitality of Downpatrick town centre and, subject to formal approval, aims to start demolition and rebuilding work within weeks.

“The proposal also includes a new signalised junction into the retail park which is a betterment compared to the existing access junction.” the planning papers continue.

“The Asda store and wider retail park form a vital part of the town centre and wider community in Downpatrick.”

There was overwhelming support for the £22m investment during a 12-week public consultation earlier this year with the planning papers revealing that the construction method on the new store and retail units will be similar to that used to build the 

Halfords, Argos, Costa and New Look stores at the retail park which have not been affected by flooding or structural issues.

The four new non-food retail stores also form part of the development proposal and will be built adjacent to the existing New Look store, while the current petrol station will also be redeveloped with existing underground fuel tanks replaced.

Asda is currently trading from a temporary store at the retail park with news that the ultra-modern replacement is being set to be approved welcomed by local politicians who say it will increase footfall and provide a boost for the town’s economy.