New Belmont SPAR 'will cater for population growth'

PLANS have been lodged for the construction of a retail unit, hot food outlet, bulk fuel, EV charging spaces and associated site works and landscaping beside the new Belmont Hall development in Antrim town.

Henderson Group has proposed the development of ‘SPAR Belmont’.

A retail statement said: “The site is located at the entrance to the Belmont Hall housing development and has extant planning permission for the development of retail units.

“The proposed development is driven by the need to cater for the local shopping needs of the significant level of housing that exists and is being built on Belmont Road, namely the Belmont Hall housing development and the existing Greenvale housing development opposite.”

The report said that other customers will include passing traffic and residents in the housing areas off Cunningham Way.

“Since 2021, a significant number of housing units (134) have been completed. This has added another 323 persons to the local population based on an average household size of 2.41, thereby giving a current catchment population estimate of 1,451 persons.

“By the year 2029, completion of the total 393 housing units permitted at Belmont Hall will add a total of 947 persons to the population of Antrim.

“The prospect of this happening is substantiated by the rate of housebuilding that has taken place since May 2025.

“It can be seen that the total expenditure on convenience goods within the local catchment presently amounts to £3.1m.

“Due to the level of housebuilding that is taking place it is forecast to grow quite considerably to £4.2m by the design year 2029 – an increase of £1m.

“It is estimated that the turnover of the proposal will be in the region of £1.9m. The retail impact of the proposal will not adversely affect the trading fortunes of other convenience shops in Antrim Town Centre.

“On average, retail impact on existing retailers will amount to minus 2.9%.

“This low, single digit level of retail impact is not considered to be adverse.

“Planning Permission provided for the erection of 393 dwellings, together with two no retails units and a crèche at Belmont Hall.

“This permission represents a fallback position for retail development at this location and is relevant to the consideration of retail impact.”

Comprising a total of 248 net square metres of convenience goods floorspace, there will be a total of 42 parking spaces provided onsite.

The report said that the proposed development represents an investment of £3m and will provide 26 full time and part time jobs.

The site was most recently used as a construction compound for the Belmont Hall development

A planning statement added: “The proposal is for the construction of one retail unit and one hot food unit with associated access and parking provision.

“The proposed SPAR will be 431 sqm gross floorspace of which only 248 sqm is net retail sales. The hot food unit will be 68 sqm gross floorspace.

“The development represents an important investment of £3m by the Henderson Group in the site.

“There will be 26 jobs created in the SPAR, expected to be 16 full time and 10 part time, across various management, supervisory and customer service roles.

“Due to the nature of retail work, many Henderson Retail employees live local to the shops in which they work.

“Additional salaries of £420,000 approx. per annum will be generated at SPAR Belmont which will be of support to the local economy.

“There will be additional employment and related salaries associated with the hot food unit.

“The development will also support a range of local suppliers and, furthermore, the development will support construction jobs throughout the construction period.

“In addition, SPAR Belmont is expected to provide further rates income in the region of some £24,000 per annum to support the delivery of public services.”