A new 6,000 sq ft storage and distribution centre – complete with trade counter – is being planned close to Asda in Portadown.
It follows approval perviously given late last year for a rent-a-car facility in the same area.
An application for the development has now been lodged with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The applicant is the Trustees of Turpen, which is affiliated to the local building company JH Turkington Ltd.
The proposals also include parking, new site access, road widening, landscaping and all other associated works.
If approved – and when up and running – it has been estimated that the new development would see six staff on site daily.
The location of the new centre and trade counter is described in papers presently as a “brownfield site”.
It is to be located, precisely, on lands “bound by Watson Street to the west and Joseph Street to the north east, directly north of 21 Watson Street, Portadown, and 150m south west of Asda”.
The estimated 6,000 sq ft floorspace would be split almost equally between the storage and distribution centre and trade counter and houses under one roof.
A ‘back of house’ area includes office, staff room and toilet facilities and these will be located within the trade counter half of the warehouse development.
A total of 16 parking spaces are planned for cars and vans, together with one HGV space, and three cycle spaces.
The development, in terms of usage, is described as retail floorspace and light industrial.
According to a transport assessment form, vehicles will enter and exit the site from Watson Street. There are road improvements proposed along the street connecting Joseph Street and Watson Street to facilitate increased access by HGVs from Joseph Street, and to “improve pedestrian connectivity”.
And a supporting statement further elaborates: “The proposal includes one access taken from Watson Street which will be used by both customer and delivery vehicles. As part of the wider development proposal, road widening is proposed for Joseph Street to ensure that HGV can appropriately service the site, providing an appropriate upgrade to this part of the road network.
“The east-west portion of Joseph Street immediately south of the site is proposed to be widened under this application. Approximately 7m of land under the applicant ownership will be removed to allow for sufficient road widening including a 2m wide footpath.”
The works have been described as a “significant roads infrastructure improvement” for the area.
A separate risk assessment, meanwhile, explains: “The proposed development shall also include the provision of new boundary fencing, improved access, perimeter vegetation planting with discrete soft landscaping and all associated site works.”
Planning approval had previously been given for the site for a mixed-use development comprising three-storey offices, single storey restaurant and parking.
Arguing that the proposals should proceed – and seeking approval “at the earliest opportunity” – the supporting statement adds: “Class B4 Storage and Distribution Unit, with trade counter, is not a town centre use according to the SPPS. Due to the specific nature of these businesses, they require large spaces for both vehicles, storage and deliveries.
“The site is strategically located at the periphery of the town centre boundary and, as such, would allow these units to trade at a location within the settlement of Portadown, but also still being conveniently located beside the town centre designation, benefitting from existing passing trade.
“Taking the above into consideration, the principle of a storage and distribution unit, with ancillary trade counter, should also be considered as acceptable as it will not prejudice the function of Portadown Town Centre or cause nuisance to nearby residential amenity.”
The proposals will now be advertised shortly.
