B&M Bargains

B&M Retail Ltd required planning permission to continue trading from a unit at Junction One Retail Park, Antrim. Located approx. 1.5kms north west of the town centre, the retail park is part of a large retail site which also contains a Factory outlet Store, foodstores (Lidl and ASDA), restaurants, a hotel and leisure facilities.

Issues Encountered

• Existing planning approval allowed only for the sale of bulky goods and contained conditions preventing the sale of food
• B&M wanted conditions changed to allow the sale of small household goods and food
• DOE Planning was opposed to the application due to possible impact it would have on the town centre; the possibility that alternative town centre sites existed; and the precedent that could result from the approval of the application

Our Involvement

We were engaged by B&M Retail Ltd to ahead of DOE Planning's recommendation to Antrim Borough Council that the application should be refused.

Through engaging with the Council a decision on the application was deferred, allowing for a follow-up office meeting between our consultants, B&M Bargains and DOE Planning to discuss the issues relating to the application.

As well as generating support for the application from various local Councillors, we presented compelling evidence at the office meeting and in subsequent correspondence with DOE Planning, addressing the Department's original concerns. The application was subsequently approved.