Former bus depot in line for development

Former bus depot in line for development

8 October 2025

A KEY site in Saintfield is in line for redevelopment after Translink confirmed that it is relinquishing ownership of it.

The former bus depot at the Belfast Road has fallen into disrepair with news that it’s line for a redevelopment opportunity welcomed by Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen and Rowallane councillor Callum Bowsie.

The politicians have been lobbying for the site to be “repurposed” with suggestions it could be utilised for sheltered housing accommodation.

The site has been abandoned since a former equestrienne business within the former depot closed in 2009, with a car wash using the site for a following few years. 

Since 2009, considerable development has occurred on either side of this site and now the former depot looks set to be redeveloped.

Ms McIlveen has thanked Translink and the Department for Infrastructure for working with herself and Cllr Bowsie to ensure the former bus depot is repurposed. 

“We now look forward to continuing to engage with the relevant stakeholders to ensure the land disposing process has the needs of the community front and centre,” she said.

Cllr Bowsie said the politicians have been working with Translink over recent years to see new life breathed into the former depot as it was an “eyesore” at a key site coming into the town on the Belfast Road.

“Following a series of meetings and a number of false starts, Translink has now confirmed that it has agreed to repurpose the site and, in the first instance, offers it to governmental bodies in the to see if they have any strategic use for the site,” he explained.

“It will likely then go on the open market and I know there is already some private interest for the site.”

Cllr Bowsie said development sites like the one in Saintfield do not become available very often so the views of the local community and Saintfield Community Association have been sought over the past year as to how they would like to see it developed.

He said the politicians have expressed our desire for much-needed private sheltered accommodation in Saintfield and are currently exploring this option.

Cllr Bowsie added: “At present, those that do not meet the criteria for social sheltered housing have to either move many miles away, go into a nursing home, or stay and struggle in their current house.

”Disposing of land is not straightforward and I want to thank residents for their patience during this long process.”