Plans by the famous Hollywood Bowl to build a new 10-pin bowling and entertainment complex in Banbridge are being recommended for approval.
The £9 million venue – plans for which were revealed by Armagh I in January – is to be located at The Boulevard.
The development would create 50 new jobs – 20 during the construction phase and 30 once operational.
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has been closely considering the application – which falls into the ‘major’ category of development – since it was lodged at the start of the year.
Some concerns had been raised by NI Water and DfI Roads, particularly in relation to parking, but council planning officials are satisfied that the project should be allowed to proceed.
That will be the recommendation going before June’s planning committee meeting, which sits tomorrow (Wednesday).
The new entertainment and leisure venue would be located next to the Omniplex Cinema at The Boulevard, with the McDonald’s drive-thru on the other side.
As Armagh I reported in January, according to supporting documents accompanying the submission, Hollywood Bowl boasts 66 centres throughout the UK, including one in Belfast.
Designed to attract both families and adult groups, its centres offer a “vibrant and high-quality experience, featuring modern bowling lanes with electronic scoring, licensed bars, dining options, and cutting-edge amusement areas”.
To that end, the Banbridge development would focus on Units 1–3 at The Boulevard on Cascum Link.
It would involve the change of use of existing restaurant and retail space, as well as an extension and the addition of a mezzanine level, to accommodate the various elements of the plans.
The proposal is to “provide an entertainment facility to include a bowling alley with ancillary food and beverage uses, amusement arcades, and all associated site works”.
The application would see the loss of 50 parking spaces at the popular retail complex – a reduction from 1,171 to 1,121 – to accommodate the bowling lanes. The new venue would offer a floorspace of over 23,000 sq ft upon completion and bring a significant jobs boost to the area.
ABC Council officials were informed that Hollywood Bowl had considered a total of 19 potential locations in the Banbridge area for the new centre, with The Boulevard emerging as the prime site.
According to a design and access statement: “Hollywood Bowl will be a dedicated ‘One-Stop Shop’, designed to be a valuable entertainment facility at The Boulevard Banbridge, serving the current demand for entertainment and evening economy at The Boulevard.”
The new Hollywood Bowl would feature 21 reduced-length bowling lanes, as well as an amusement arcade and reception area.
There would be a bar, dining and lounge area with 96 covers, pool tables, party tables with 24 covers, male and female toilets, a kitchen, and ancillary storage rooms.
The statement says the facility would be “in keeping” with the rest of The Boulevard and would include an extension of almost 12,000 sq ft of floorspace at ground floor level, along with an ancillary mezzanine level to provide offices and staff facilities comprising over 1,100 sq ft.
The applicants point to local support for the plans.
During a pre-application consultation, feedback from 14 respondents was “overwhelmingly positive”, with comments describing it as “fabulous for families” and an “exciting and welcome addition to The Boulevard” that will “bring more footfall” and “new jobs”.
Access to the new Hollywood Bowl will be via the existing Cascum Link one-way system around The Boulevard complex.
The applicant believes the centre will help boost the night-time economy in the area and further enhance the offering at the popular retail park.
“This application introduces a new occupier, Hollywood Bowl, which goes towards helping to address the vacancy levels at The Boulevard, supporting the centre’s vitality and vibrancy,” says the supporting statement.
It adds: “The proposal represents a significant investment from the private sector, supporting the economy through the creation of jobs and securing an active use within existing vacant units.”
During the consultation process, various statutory bodies were engaged.
The Historic Environment Division found the proposals “satisfactory” in terms of policy requirements.
Environmental Health had “no objection in principle”, subject to compliance with all licensing and food and health and safety regulations.
NI Water had expressed concerns but advised that conditions should include a requirement that “no development should take place on-site until the method of sewage disposal has been agreed in writing with Northern Ireland Water (NIW), or a Consent to Discharge has been granted under the terms of the Water (NI) Order 1999”.
DfI Roads raised concerns over the reduction in parking but deferred to planning officials on the matter.
An official wrote to the council to advise: “When parking figures are robustly assessed, it appears that the level of parking that will be available may well become oversubscribed at many peak times.
“However, as set out in our initial consultation response, it is a matter for Council Planning to consider the information available and to decide whether the parking proposed is acceptable.
“We also repeat that DfI Roads has no road safety reason for objection and note that the internal (private) layout of the site can accommodate a level of informal ‘on-street’ parking, but the amenity impact of this being necessitated needs to be considered by Council Planning.”
The application will now be considered on Wednesday, with councillors tasked with making a final decision on whether or not the development should proceed.
