Carryduff shopping centre proposals to be considered

Carryduff shopping centre proposals to be considered

3 May 2017

AMBITIOUS plans which have been unveiled to bulldoze and redevelop the empty Carryduff shopping centre could be approved next week.

Members of Lisburn and Castlereagh Council’s Planning Committee meet next Monday to decide if the current centre can be razed to the ground and replaced with a 2,514 square metre retail sales area, office units, 20 apartments, ancillary accommodation, car parking and landscaping.

The Carryduff shopping centre is one of several major applications for the village which politicians will discuss next week.

The others are a retrospective application for major changes at the Cyril Johnston premises at the Ballynahinch Road and plans to build 85 new homes on land between 20 and 26 Comber Road in the village.

The development proposal for the current Carryduff shopping centre is viewed as a catalyst which could put the heart back into the area and transform the Moss Road site where the current centre has been in decline over recent years.

The redevelopment plans have already been on public display at the Lough Moss Leisure Centre in the village as part of a 12-week consultation period, with the Carryduff Regeneration Forum viewing the proposal as an opportunity to redevelop a key part of the village.

The once thriving shopping centre hit turbulent times in 2013 when anchor tenant SuperValu moved out as a result of reduced footfall. As customer numbers continued to dwindle, the remaining shops also began to close. 

Keith Kane — one of Northern Ireland’s top hairdressers — who was previously based at the Carryduff Centre, relocated from the complex last year after almost three decades.

Also at next week’s Planning Committee meeting, politicians are expected to approve the retrospective planning application for Cyril Johnston’s premises at the Ballynahinch Road.

Permission is being sought for a change of use and extension of a former boat and motorhome showroom and the subdivision of a second trade showroom to provide a bulky goods retail warehouse.