Retail unit and storage extension at Retail Park Unit 1 Lesley Bloomfield Shopping Centre and Retail Park, South Circular Road, Bangor

What was proposed

The application sought retail use for convenience and comparison goods, elevation changes and retrospective permission for a rear storage extension.

“DEA: Bangor Central Proposal: Use of existing unit for Retail (Class A1) (convenience and comparison goods), including elevation changes and retrospective extension for storage. Location: Retail Warehouse Unit 1, Lesley Bloomfield Shopping Centre and Retail Park, South Circular Road, Bangor Applicant: Maneely McCann…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The vacant end unit is in a retail park beside Bloomfield Shopping Complex, within the Bangor settlement limit and outside a designated district-centre boundary.

“The site is an end unit, currently vacant within the Lesley Bloomfield Retail Park complex adjacent to Bloomfield Shopping Complex which extends to approximately 15ha and is located at South Circular Road1.5 kilometres to the south of Bangor city centre. The shopping centre was opened in the early 1990’s. The proposed extension has already been constructed to the rear of the unit – see photographs below.”

“The site is located within the Bangor settlement limit and is not zoned or designated for any specific use.”

Officer report

Planning history

Earlier permissions covered retail warehousing, leisure development and other retail proposals, while a related 2024 application was withdrawn in 2025.

“LA06/2024/0943/F - Retail warehousing and leisure development with associated car parking. Variation of Condition 3 of permission granted under Ref: W/1991/0001, from "The floorspace comprised in the retail warehousing shall be used only for the retail sale and ancillary storage of the items listed hereunder and for no other purpose, including any other purpose in Class 1 of the Schedule to the Planning (Use Classes) Order (NI) 1989 or in any provision equivalent to that…”

“(a) DIY materials, products and equipment; (b) Garden materials, plant and equipment; (c) Furniture and soft furnishings, carpets and floor coverings and electrical goods; (d) Such other items as may be determined in writing by the Department as generally falling within the category of "bulky goods” with the exception of unit 1 which shall have a net retail floorspace of 825sqm dedicated to the sale, ancillary storage and display of the items listed hereunder and for no…”

Officer report

Design, amenity and parking

The extension was considered compatible with the area, unlikely to harm nearby residents, and capable of accommodating the additional parking requirement.

“The proposal is compatible with surrounding land uses and it does not harm the amenities of nearby residents. The proposed extension is approximately 25m away from the nearest residential property to the south at 11 Upritchard Court and has a road running between the retrospective extension and the Upritchard development.”

“DfI Roads has been consulted, and no concerns have been raised regarding road safety. The existing parking is to be used and as the proposed extension is for storage purposes only, the extension will not generate any additional traffic. The extension is built on part of the rear service yard and still leaves adequate space for delivery vehicles to park and turn in-curtilage. As the extension is for storage purposes, it does not require visitor parking.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

DfI Roads had no objections, Northern Ireland Water approved, and Environmental Health raised no objection subject to noise-related conditions.

“DfI Roads - No objections NI Water – Approve. Environmental Health – No objections subject to conditions.”

Officer report

Objection about loss of light

One neighbour objected that the extension could reduce light to a home and garden, but officers considered the separation and orientation sufficient.

“The objection specifically relates to a potential loss of light into both the rear garden and back of the property. It is considered however that there is sufficient separation distance to ensure that the retrospective extension will not be of detriment to the amenity of the objector’s property.”

“To further support this conclusion, it is of note that the residence is positioned on land to the southwest of the site, and when the east to west trajectory of the sun is considered, the subject extension with a single storey flat roof will not cause an unacceptable level of overshadowing.”

Officer report

What speakers said

The applicant’s representatives supported approval, citing vacant-unit reuse, investment, jobs, retail choice and the independent review of retail effects.

The vote

Councillor Cathcart proposed approval, Councillor Harbinson seconded it, and the committee adopted the recommendation.

“The Chair invited further questions to the Officer for clarification and Councillor Cathcart asked if the parking assessment had accounted for the closure of the upper-level car park. The Officer confirmed that it had, adding that surveys indicated that 235 parking spaces were free in the centre during the survey period. Councillor Cathcart proposed, seconded by Councillor Harbinson, that the recommendation be adopted and that Council grants planning permission.”

“He noted that the expansion was for storage purposes and not new retail space and felt that a precedent had already been set due to approvals for similar stores and therefore saw no reason to refuse the application. In closing, he felt that the Iceland store would increase shopper choice in Bangor and create job opportunities.”

Minutes

Permission conditions

Permission controls the floorspace, convenience and comparison goods, single-unit operation, noise levels, plant and delivery hours.

“The retail unit hereby permitted shall be limited to the display and sale of convenience goods, with the exception of an area not exceeding 165 sq. metres of the total net retail floor space that may be used for comparison retailing.”

“The floorspace of the retail unit hereby approved shall be operated as a single unit and shall not be sub-divided into independent or separate retail units.”

Officer report