Superstore plan on cards

The park would be sited off the main road between Belfast and Dublin

Plans have been submitted for the biggest, single retail outlet to be built in Northern Ireland.

A store covering an area of land bigger than four football pitches is part of a major development proposed outside Banbridge in County Down.

Developers have already had approval for industrial units, call centres, offices and a hotel on a 100-acre site beside the main Belfast to Dublin road.

However, the developers want to make the most of the position and have applied to build a retail park as well.

One of the units would cover two acres and another would provide at least seven acres of floor space.

Council backing

There is speculation that the Scandinavian furniture retailer Ikea may be interested in the site, because it cannot get permission for a big enough store in the Republic of Ireland.

The company has said it is not involved at the moment but is "keeping an eye" on the Irish market.

The developers have said Banbridge is vulnerable to competition and that their development will bring people to the town.

Both the chamber of trade and local council are backing the project.

Cassie McDermott of Banbridge District Council said: "It can only be for the good of the whole area because we're expecting it to bring at least 3,000 new jobs.

It's very different and will be good for consumers and retailers in the surrounding towns and areas

Donald McFetridge
University of Ulster

"That will help everybody, including the retailers."

John Houston of the Chamber of Trade said the location of the town was important.

"We are in between two larger cities, Lisburn and Newry," he said.

"This is Banbridge's chance to grab an opportunity that cannot be left to someone else."

However, some local residents affected by the development may be less positive and a public inquiry cannot be ruled out.

The scheme comes after numerous out-of-town developments in recent years, with two big projects currently under way in the Belfast area.

But Donald McFetridge of the University of Ulster said these proposals were different from other out-of-town developments, which were mainly housing and supermarkets.

"Because of the size and scale of this retail development and the type of retailing to be carried out there - it's quite unique," he said.

"It's very different and it will be good for consumers and retailers in the surrounding towns and areas."