Tesco has announced plans for a new supermarket in Dungannon, Co Tyrone with the promise of up to 380 jobs. The 26,000 sq ft complex will be built on a derelict site at Beechvalley on the outskirts of the town. Members of the company's senior management met the local council to outline plans for their latest outlet in the North.
Mr David Arnold of Tesco said the store would provide an annual payroll of £2.3 million. Councillors gave unanimous backing to the project, with chairman Mr Patsy Daly congratulating Tesco for its confidence in the town.
He paid tribute to Mr Peter Dolan of Jermon Developments, a local firm which launched the development three years ago. Councillor Vincent Currie said: "This is a vote of confidence in Dungannon, it's a major development."
But Councillor Jim Brady sounded a note of caution, warning that the arrival of a major supermarket could adversely affect smaller local businesses.
He asked: "Has a retail impact study been carried out?" He also voiced concern that local produce would not be sold in the store but Mr Arnold told him that Tesco was committed to using local suppliers. The Beechvalley site is to be further boosted by a new enterprise centre being built by local development group Dungannon West. The company's chairman Mr Michael McLoughlin said the twin development is the sort of thing that is long overdue in the town.
