LISBURN Borough Council has given its support to an amended proposal for the controversial out of town superstore being planned by Sainsbury at Sprucefield, near Lisburn. The council had turned down the company's original proposal because of what it saw as the danger to businesses in Lisburn town centre.
Under the new proposal, Sainsbury's developers Stannifer have offered to reduce the amount of retail space, which will include an 80,000 square foot Sainsbury store, 50,000 square feet of retail warehousing, and 50,000 square feet of commercial leisure space.
The chairman of the council's planning committee Councillor Jim Dillon, said that the new proposal was the best solution for everybody.
"The council's concerns related to the threat to shops in Lisburn town centre," he said, "and increased pressure on an overstretched road system. The new proposal has taken account of these issues."
Sainsbury is facing increasing pressure on planned stores in other parts of Northern Ireland. Planning permission for a half built store in Coleraine has been revoked, and there are reports that court action is being considered over the proposed outlet in Ballymena.
However, the company announced yesterday the awarding of the contract to fit out its new store at Forestside, Newtownbreda, to Laing. Laing has already undertaken the associated road works, now nearing completion, and the construct ion of the 40,000 sq ft supermarket, the first phase of the 300,000 sq ft shopping centre.
