National supermarket, Sainsbury's has submitted plans for a 60,000 sq ft store in east Belfast.

It is to be located at the disused Rolls Royce Factory on the Upper Newtownards Road in Dundonald, Co Antrim.

If successful, the store will create in the region of 500 full and part time jobs on opening and approximately 250 during the construction period.

The store, complete with a six-pump petrol station, a café and 550 parking spaces is part of a wider plan to regenerate the entire 19-acre site. Plans also include a 120-bedroom Hotel with restaurant/bar, creating more than 200 additional jobs in the area.

Chris Templeman, Head of Property Development at Sainsbury's said: "We are delighted to have reached the planning stage for a new state of the art Sainsbury’s in Dundonald.

-- Advertisement --

"If successful, not only will the scheme as a whole provide more than 700 jobs throughout the process but it also shows a great commitment by us and the developers to the Northern Ireland economy and the emerging economic recovery.

"This store is part of Sainsbury’s wider pledge to significantly expand our portfolio of stores in Northern Ireland.

"We are very much looking forward to offering shoppers in Dundonald and the wider east Belfast and Ards area the choice quality and value customers across Northern Ireland currently experience at our other 12 stores. We have had useful discussions with Planning Service as part of Pre Application Discussions and we would encourage Planning Service to move as speedily as possible whilst recognising the economic and community benefits that this investment represents in the area in the current economic climate."

Stephen Bell of Lagmar Properties, who are promoting the wider scheme, added: "The planning stage is an extremely important part of the overall development process. We welcome the commitment Sainsbury’s is making to the local area. Together we are looking forward to creating many jobs and business opportunities at the site which has been in need of investment for a very long time."

(NS/BMCC)