12 employment units at 6 Sanda Road, Newtownabbey
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Antrim And Newtownabbey Planning Committee on 19 Jan 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought to retain works creating eight business and small enterprise units and convert two former industrial buildings for business use.
“PROPOSAL Retention of works to reconfigure and subdivide former industrial building for plastics manufacturing to create 8 no units for business and small enterprise use.”
“Conversion of two former industrial buildings into business and enterprise use. Refurbishment of buildings to provide new facade and replacement roof and other associated site works…”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The site contains small industrial units in an employment area, accessed from Sanda Road, near businesses, a petrol station and homes.
“The application site currently comprises a number of small industrial units of varying heights which are the subject of this retrospective application. Access to the site is achieved via Sanda Road which accesses onto the Shore Road.”
“To the southwest of the site is the remainder of the Sanda Road Business Park which has a number of different businesses with a variety of industrial building styles. There is a petrol filling station located to the northwest of the site which fronts onto the Shore Road and there are also a number of residential properties to the east of the site which front onto the Shore Road but back onto the lane which accesses the application site.”
Officer report
Earlier planning history
Earlier applications concerned a commercial kitchen, fencing and subdivision works, and eight retrospective warehousing units; two applications were invalid.
“Proposal: Change of use from commercial storage unit to commercial kitchen. Decision: Permission Granted (02/12/2008)”
“Proposal: Erection of fencing and kerbing within site and subdivision and change of use of former plastics manufacturing factory to form 8 No. warehousing units to include external wall and roof upgrades (retrospective)”
Officer report
Who spoke
A speaker addressed the committee in support of the applicant, and another spoke in support as the agent.
The committee vote
A motion to grant permission was proposed and seconded, then passed with eight votes for, one against and no abstentions.
“Proposed by Councillor Logue Seconded by Alderman Campbell that planning permission be granted.”
“On the proposal being put to the meeting 8 Members voted in favour, 1 against and 0 abstention, and it was agreed…”
Minutes
Sources
- Antrim And Newtownabbey Planning Committee minutes, 19 January 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Antrim And Newtownabbey's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Antrim And Newtownabbey
- Date
- Monday 19 January 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- 8 for, 1 against
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Antrim And Newtownabbey committee decisions →
Source: Plota analysis of the minutes.
This committee's year
38 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 4 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.