A new Poundland supermarket has been approved for Balmoral Plaza on the Boucher Road.
Elected members at the Belfast City Council Planning Committee unanimously accepted an application for a proposed change of use to retail use to allow for the sale of “mixed convenience and comparison goods” at 8-10 Boucher Road, Boucher Plaza, Belfast BT12.
The plan, by Galgorm Properties of Ballymena, involves minor amendments to elevations, car parking and services and general site works. The proposal also proposes the amalgamation of three existing units.
Read more: Boucher Road Lidl gets green light after objections from IFA and Tesco
The building at 8-10 Boucher Road, which is currently vacant, has a previous permission for the sale of bulky goods, as a retail warehouse, and has also been used in the past for the sale of vehicles and kitchens.
The proposed supermarket proposes a gross floor area of 1,910 sqm, a net sales area of 1,465sqm for the sale of convenience goods such as food, tobacco, stationery, cosmetics, and comparison goods, such as DIY materials, garden materials, plants, furniture and soft furnishings, cycles/cycle accessories, electrical goods etc.
Poundland already operates stores across Belfast including existing stores at the Park Centre and Kennedy Centre and on the Lisburn Road. The applicant has stated that the proposal will create £750,000 investment and will support 25 construction jobs and 35 new retail jobs.
The application site is located along the east side of Boucher Road, in an area predominantly characterised by a mix of uses, mostly commercial/retail uses. Windsor Park football stadium, Olympia Leisure Centre and associated playing fields are located to the immediate south-east.
Existing residential development is located to the east and north-east of the site. Commercial uses are located to the north, south and on the opposite side of Boucher Road to the west.
Planning approval was recently granted for a new Lidl Supermarket and Drive through café/restaurant to the immediate east of the site.
All statutory consultees were content with the proposed development, subject to conditions, and no third-party representations were received from residents or local businesses. The council planning team recommended approval for the application to elected representatives.
The council planning report states: “Minor amendments are proposed to the Boucher Road elevation and include closure of two existing sliding glazed doors to be used solely as windows. The car park will have bollards removed and the asphalt made good.
“A small bin enclosure is proposed to the rear of the building which will be screened by the existing brick wall. Twelve air conditioning units are proposed to be fixed to the rear wall and will replace nine existing units/plant on the rear elevation. A doorway along the rear elevation is proposed to be removed to facilitate the air conditioning units.
“The proposed development is to be accessed from Boucher Road utilising existing access arrangements. The existing parking arrangement, albeit with minor changes, will serve the development.
“A shared parking arrangement with the adjacent (section of) Boucher Plaza comprising a total of 159 car parking spaces including six disabled spaces will serve the development. Eighty-five spaces are located immediately adjacent to the development
“Four new bike stands are proposed to be located at the front of the building to serve the proposal. The site is served by public transport and is close to an existing rail halt (Adelaide) and metro bus stops serving the Boucher Road and is considered an accessible and sustainable location.”
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