A FORMER builders' yard in Ballymena is to be developed into a new Home Bargains retail venture.
It comes just months after the former Queen Street site of the Ballymena Construction Company went on the market in April 2021.
The proposal has been submitted by the recently incorporated Q Street Assets Limited.
The company is owned by Steve Parr of the Parr Group, which specialises in mechanical and electrical building services and facilities management.
The Belfast-based group already lists Home Bargains as a client and last year completed the fit-out works at Home Bargains new 30,000 sq ft outlet at Longwood Retail Park in Newtownabbey, the retailer’s largest store in Northern Ireland and its fourth largest in the UK.
A pre-application notice (PAN) submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council reveal the proposed Ballymena development will also include a 30,000 sq ft store, along with a 7,620 sq ft garden centre.
A PAN is the first step in major planning applications.
Industry monitor Construction Information Services Ireland estimates it will represent an investment in the region of £4.8 million.
Architectural drawings reveal the store has been designed for Home Bargains.
Speaking in May last year, Steve Parr said: “Over recent years we've developed a positive working relationship with the team at Home Bargains through on-time and on-budget deliveries of several large-scale projects as well as our continued routine care which delivers maximum efficiency, safety and peace of mind.
Home Bargains is also at the pre-application stage for a new 30,000 sq ft retail unit in Carrickfergus. Those plans provide for a 10,000 sq ft garden centre at the former Courtauld’s factory site in the town.
The discount retail chain currently operates 28 outlets across the north.
