Call for road improvements in borough as more major logistics hubs are approved

THERE have been calls for more road improvements to cope with the increased volumes of traffic which will be created following the construction of major logistics and warehouse developments at Nutts Corner.

A planning application for Tamar Selby Ltd was recently approved by Antrim and Newtownabbey Planning Committee.

Tamar Selby Ltd trade in Plant Machinery and are a subsidiary group of worldwide market leader Euro Auctions Group.

Plans for a 19,500 square metre storage and distribution warehouse will also include an additional 19,84sqm of office floor space split across two floors and car parking at lands south of Lidl Distribution Warehouse, Dundrod Road, Nutts Corner.

Tamar Selby Ltd has indicated that this will represent a significant investment of £20m for the Borough and the creation of around 90-100 construction jobs and up to 290 distribution jobs when completed.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Mark Cooper said: “This major investment by Tamar Selby Group further bolsters Nutts Corner’s reputation as a hub for distribution excellence.”

Chairman of Antrim and Newtownabbey Planning Committee Councillor Robert Foster added: “The connectivity and central location at Nutts Corner make this the perfect location for Tamar Selby Ltd to set up business.”

And eight months ago, it was a similar story for a for a new multi-million storage and distribution facility for award-winning construction and property development company Heron Bros Ltd.

The 250,000 sq ft premises will include warehouses, cold dock and office accommodation will create up to 200 temporary jobs during construction and a further 230 permanent jobs upon completion.

The major planning application was completed in just 17 weeks.

The project represented a £35m investment in the construction sector alone and was said to feed into the councils plans for attracting £1bn investment and the creation of 2500 jobs by 2025.”

Nutt’s Corner is also home to a huge logistics and showroom facility for Cosentino, which makes kitchen surfaces, and the HQ of budget supermarket chain Lidl.

Airport ward Sinn Fein councillor Anne Marie Logue said that with the area providing a strategic corridor to Belfast International Airport and new warehousing hubs, a road and drainage upgrade is long overdue.

“I welcome news of resurfacing on the Moira Road, but it does not go far enough.

“As well as the surface of the road, the Nutts Corner roundabout has had a recent issue with flooding - the drains are just clogged with silt and a proper clean-out is years overdue.

“There is also the issue of speeding and that there is no reduction in speed limit when cars are approaching the roundabout.

“The area is being singled out as a very prestigious area where big businesses want to invest, which is a real honour, but the infrastructure needs to keep up and at a local level the Government departments need to reciprocate the confidence which is being shown in the borough as a place to do business..

“When you look at the development around Sandyknowes and the way the roundabout has been upgraded to match that growth, Nutts Corner looks about 20 years behind.”

Turn to page 9 to see news about resurfacing at Moira Road.