Plans for a new £3 million EuroSpar filling station in Tandragee have finally been given the go-ahead after a “fair resolution” to residents’ concerns over a bin storage area was reached this week.
The development – which is due to create 10 new jobs – had been recommended for approval at ABC Council’s planning committee in October.
However, the matter was deferred after residents of Old Mill Court – who were granted speaking rights at the meeting – complained of a “threat to health, amenity and safety” due to the proximity of bin storage facilities near their homes.
The proposals were put back and returned to the November planning committee sitting yesterday (Wednesday), when the fruits of behind-the-scenes work on the issue were outlined and agreement to proceed was reached.
The deferral allowed the applicant to submit further information in relation to refuse management on the site, at the foot of the town in Tandragee.
Principal planning officer Roisin Hamill again presented a report to the committee with a recommendation to approve.
She explained that an amended site layout for the refuse management area had been submitted, which would see it “moved approximately 9.7 metres to the west and reorientated on the site”.
She told Wednesday’s meeting: “The area beside No. 5 Old Mill Court, where the refuse storage area was originally to be located, is now a proposed landscape buffer area to be maintained by Henderson Group.
“A bin storage area details and management arrangements document has also been submitted, which confirms the bin storage area will be used to store general waste, food and cardboard. It will be locked overnight, with bin collections between 7am and 9am on Tuesdays for general waste, Wednesdays for cardboard waste and Thursdays for food waste.
“The area will be kept tidy and hosed out at least weekly, and will not be used after 11pm on any night.”
Ms Hamill said further neighbour notifications were carried out and an updated comment had been received from the residents of 5 Old Mill Court, who had spoken at the October sitting.
She said the notification had advised that, in relation to the bin storage area, “the Henderson Group have presented a fair solution in their opinion”.
Added Ms Hamill: “Officers are content that the amended location of the bin storage area, and the bin storage area details and management arrangements – which set out how the refuse area will be managed – satisfactorily address the issues that had been raised by concerned residents.”
The planning officer confirmed that, in the interim, one further letter of objection was received “raising concerns regarding noise, fumes, additional traffic and impact on existing businesses”.
She explained that all concerns had been “fully considered” and were included in the report; officers remained satisfied that the proposed development complies with policy and, on this basis, “there is no change to the recommendation that planning permission be granted”.
DUP Alderman Gareth Wilson, who had urged the search for a solution in October and proposed the deferral, said he was “pleased that work has been positive and timely”.
He said there was now a “general relief, or at least sense of contentment, that the change has been well received and will be positively impacting upon them as opposed to negatively”.
Alderman Wilson said he had forwarded correspondence which had been sent to him following publicity surrounding the previous meeting.
Ms Hamill confirmed “one further letter” had been received and added: “A lot of the issues that had been raised in that objection had previously been dealt with by ourselves. They had been raised by other people in relation to fumes, noise and excess traffic, so that had previously been dealt with.”
She reiterated: “In relation to the bin storage area, the concerned residents have set out in writing that they feel it is a fair solution.”
Alderman Wilson agreed that, in relation to the fresh objection, “a lot of that ground was covered”.
But he sought confirmation going forward, adding: “Some of the other concerns will be dealt with by condition and adherence to those conditions. I suppose there will be a role going forward for planning if some of those conditions aren’t met or are broken, and then there will be follow-up work by planners to ensure that will be the case?”
Ms Hamill replied: “We have proposed a number of conditions in relation to noise, layout, etc. Obviously, if there’s any concern those conditions are not being adhered to, that would be followed up by ourselves.”
Alderman Wilson proposed that the application be approved – and UUP Alderman Gordon Kennedy, who welcomed a “good, speedy resolution”, was quick to second.
The newly approved development will now allow for the demolition of the former Hamilton Hardware unit at 30 Mill Street.
Outbuildings at the rear of the former hardware store will also be demolished to make way for a planned extension, with alterations proposed to the “rear private amenity space” of residential units at 32 and 34 Mill Street.
There will be alterations to the existing forecourt to make way for the petrol filling station, which will take the form of a “single pump island forecourt”.
The number of parking spaces will increase from 41 to 48. The parking will comprise 44 spaces, including two EV charging spaces and two staff spaces, as well as two more parking bays at the petrol pumps and two ‘waiting’ spaces.
The newly branded EuroSpar will offer floorspace in excess of 7,800 sq. ft., the majority of which will be for retail sales.
The site will continue to have two accesses – one from Mill Street and one from Gilford Street. Both will remain two-way in/out accesses. It is also intended to widen the Mill Street access to “improve manoeuvrability”.
An agent representing the retail group previously said the development represented a £3 million investment in Tandragee by the Henderson Group.
He confirmed: “We plan to invest a further £3 million in our Tandragee store, which will bring our total investment in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council area to £16.1 million over the past five years.
“It will create 10 jobs and some £150,000 worth of additional salaries and £15,000 of additional rates income. It’s an investment in, and improvement of, this well-established town centre shop.”
