A major industrial development for Tandragee – aimed at attracting new businesses to the County Armagh town – has been granted planning approval, Armagh I can exclusively reveal.
As we first reported in January, the application was submitted to DoE Planning Service.
Upon the amalgamation of the local councils, it subsequently was presented to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council to determine.
And when it goes before the council’s planning and regulatory services committee in Banbridge on Wednesday evening, it will be with full planning consent given.
The proposals are for a mixed-use development with various class of industrial uses.
It relates to the old Tandragee Enterprise Park – the site of the former Express Parcels – on the Madden Road.
The cost of the development is not yet known but is believed to represent a significant investment.
The development will see the conversion of a former storage and distribution yard into various units to be let to interested businesses.
The yard has been vacant since 2012 and the hope now is that it can be brought back into productive use.
The application was brought forward by Tandragee Development Initiative, which was established in the town 17 years ago.
One of the directors since the outset is the former Ulster Unionist Mayor of Armagh, Councillor Robert Turner.
He told Armagh I at the time that he was excited by the plans and what the new development will mean for Tandragee.
“The plan is to convert it into units – industrial units of various and manageable sizes – for starter businesses and others,” he explained.
“We hope to get a bit of grant aid and we wanted to have planning permission in place as that’s part of the essential criteria.”
Previous tenants in the area of the enterprise park – including a mushroom company and oil distributor – have moved to other locations.
According to Mr Turner, Tandragee is a “thriving town”, with industries including crisps and snack giant Tayto and oats business Whites – and the availability of these additional industrial units will add to the town’s attractiveness for investors.
“I have no doubt this will be a huge and welcome boost for Tandragee,” he added.
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