CO Tyrone fuel group LCC has signalled plans for a new fuel, retail and food development at Sprucefield.
The Cookstown-based coal, oil and road fuel company has notified planning officials of a proposal for a former car showroom between the two major retail sites at Sprucefield.
A proposal of application notice (PAN) submitted to Lisburn and Castlereagh Borough Council by LCC Group describes the proposed construction of a new fuel filling station, retail unit and car wash.
Significantly the bid also includes seven restaurant/café units and a new drive-thru restaurant on the A1 Hillsborough Road site.
Industry monitor Construction Information Services Ireland has put the estimated value of the construction project at around £6.7 million.
The former car showroom lies along the A1 dual carriageway between the two roundabout junctions that connects the recently sold Sprucefield Retail Park and the Sprucefield Shopping Centre, which includes Marks and Spencer.
In 2014, the Hillsborough Road site was advertised for sale with an asking price of at least £3m.
LCC, which now owns the site, last year submitted a retrospective planning application for a temporary change of the site’s use from a car showroom to a site for the sale of coal and children’s play equipment.
Headquartered in Cookstown, LCC runs an oil distribution network and major coal import operation from Belfast Harbour. The Tyrone firm has also been expanding its unmanned Go Power fuel stations.
Last year the group declared a turnover of £991m, with pre-tax profits reaching £18.8m.
In November, Sprucefield Retail Park, which includes Sainsbury’s, Argos and B&Q, was bought by real estate investment trust NewRiver for £40m.
The site was sold with 18 acres of development land.
Sainsbury’s also operates a fuel operation at the M1 side of the site.
