'New Look' for mall as clothing chain closes

THE owners of Castle Mall are planning to divide the current New Look premises into five new units.

The fashion chain will be closing on December 8.

Owners Keneagles Limited have applied to subdivide Unit A1/1 and for a change of use of part of Unit A1/1 to restaurants, including new associated shopfronts.

A Design and Access Statement lodged with the planning department of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: “Whilst the vacation of this c.750sqm unit represents a loss to the town centre’s retail offer, at the same it represents an opportunity to attract several new businesses to the area.

“Advice from the commercial agents for Castle Mall, Frazer Kidd, suggests that, due to its size and current market demand, it would be difficult to let Unit A1/1 to a single operator, but that there would however be stronger demand for smaller sized units in this location, in particular restaurant opportunities.

“In addition, because a sub-divided Unit A1/1 has the potential to present direct frontages onto the town’s Central Car Park (accommodating evening opening hours outside those of the Centre), restaurant units would work well.

“This application is for sub-division into five demises, four of which will be restaurants with direct access (via a new ramp and landing) from the Central Car Park.

“The fifth new unit will remain in retail use, with access off the existing internal Mall.

“This arrangement, along with the recently consented café frontage to Unit 10 and the creation in 2023 of the Lynas store and additional Mall entrance and will further help to open up the Centre’s frontage to Castle Way and help to enliven this part of the town centre.

“The owners of Castle Mall Antrim, Keneagles Limited, have previously advised the Council of its plans to regenerate the site as a smaller, revitalised shopping centre (to the west) with a social housing development (to the east). This latest proposal is fully in line with this aim, and indeed enhances the recently consented proposals.”

“This application to open up the blank wall at the western end of the Centre with a series of new shop-fronts will help to further address the objective of the “Antrim Town Centre Strategy Conservation Area Designation” to transform the frontage facing towards one of the main through routes in the town.

“External signage zones for the new restaurants are integrated into the new design – these will of course be the subject of separate planning applications (by the tenants) for outdoor advertisements.”