Eurospar entrance and landscaping at Unit 1, 290 Antrim Road, Newtownabbey

What was proposed

The application proposed a new entrance to the existing Eurospar, with pathway, boundary treatment and landscaping works.

“PROPOSAL New entrance to existing Eurospar retail unit along with associated works to pathways, boundary treatments and landscaping…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contains an existing Eurospar, retail and hot-food units, a petrol forecourt, parking and a nearby public car park.

“The site comprises an existing Eurospar retail unit with three (3) retail/hot food units located in the southwestern corner of the site. An existing petrol forecourt and parking area is situated within the northeastern portion of the site, with a public car park located to the south of the site. An extension to the retailing unit was previously approved on the 24'n May 2024, Ref: LA03/2023/0600/F and works have commenced on site to provide the extension.”

“The surrounding area is characterised by a mix of uses including retail units, financial services, hot food takeaways and a primary school directly adjacent to the site.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended permission because the proposal kept the existing retail floorspace and parking while providing an acceptable entrance, design and accessible connection.

“The proposal does not seek to increase the size of the unit or increase the retail floorspace previously approved, however, it seeks to create an additional lobby area within the existing floorspace to provide a new customer entrance to the rear on the southwestern side of the building.”

“Internally, 15sqm of floorspace is being altered from the main shop floor to provide a lobby area. The existing gross floorspace and net retail area of the retailing unit remains unaltered by the proposal.”

Officer report

Consultees and objections

Environmental Health, Rivers, Roads and Historic Environment Division raised no objections, while one letter raised concerns about car-park use and the entrance.

“Council's Environmental Health Section: No objection Dfl Rivers: No objection Dfl Roads: No objection…”

Officer report

The objection considered

Officers concluded that the objection did not justify refusal because retail floorspace and existing parking were retained, with separate legal matters left to the relevant parties.

“The floorspace of the retail unit (Eurospar) is not being increased and the existing parking provision for the Eurospar complex is being retained. While it is accepted that the Farmley car park will be used by customers of the Eurospar unit, there is no indication that the increased use of the car park will adversely affect the viability of the other retailing units in the area.”

“The Farmley Road car park is under Council ownership and the grant of planning permission does not confer any private property rights upon the applicant who will have to secure separate legal agreements from the landowner before the development may proceed. These are civil matters which must be resolved by the relevant parties and lies outside the consideration of this application.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A senior planning officer introduced the report, while a supporter, the applicant and the architect addressed the committee and answered questions.

The committee vote

A motion to grant permission was supported by 11 members, opposed by one and met with no abstentions.

“11 Katie PattersonIn Support/Applicant (for questions) Proposed by Alderman Campbell Seconded by Councillor Lynch that planning permission be granted. On the proposal being put to the meeting 11 Members voted in favour, 1 against and 0 abstention, it was agreed that planning permission be granted for the application subject to the Conditions set out in the Planning Report.”

Minutes

The conditions

The conditions required commencement within five years and implementation and replacement of the approved planting.

“The proposed planting shall be carried out in accordance with approved Drawing No. 07 bearing the date stamp 23 March 2026. The planting shall be canied out within the first available season following the commencement of the development hereby approved. Hedging shall be allowed to grow on and retained at a minimum height of 2m thereafter, trees shall be allowed to grow on and retained at a minimum height of 4m thereafter.”

“If within the lifetime of the development following the planting of any tree, shrub or hedge, that tree, shrub or hedge is removed, uprooted or destroyed or dies, or becomes, in the opinion of the Council, seriously damaged or defective, another tree, shrub or hedge of the same species and size as that originally planted shall be planted at the same place within the next available full planting season, unless the Council gives its written consent to any variation.”

Officer report