SAINSBURY'S has welcomed the decision by Newry and Mourne District Council to support a development of the former coalyard in the town proposed by Sainsbury's and the local developer Carnbane House.
The councillors decided a local public inquiry into the proposal would be a waste of public funds, since it already had the approval of the council, the people of Newry, and most local traders.
Meanwhile, the public inquiry has opened into the development of a £55 million sterling superstore development on the Belfast Harbour Estate. The developers, Anglia & General Developments and Aquis Estates, say that up to 1,000 jobs will be created if the scheme goes ahead.
The development, which would include a Sainsbury's supermarket, a retail warehouse and family entertainment leisure centre, has run into opposition from many of Northern Ireland's major retailers as well as the Belfast Chamber of Trade.
They say the development will have a serious effect on business in the city centre and in surrounding towns such as Bangor and Holywood.
The site was used for many years as a local authority rubbish tip for commercial and domestic waste, and is heavily contaminated. Mr Ian Raphael, of the Department of the Environment's planning service, said 55 hectares were available for development, and there were no plans for its development by the IDB.
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