Plans for the construction of a major food superstore on land off a busy Co Antrim arterial road are looking shaky.

The proposed store at Lisburn's North Feeder Road would be the biggest ever built in Lisburn.

While the final decision will be made by Environment Minister Edwin Poots soon, it is understood planners are recommending it is refused.

The application, submitted by Wildrose (Magheralave) Ltd., sought outline planning permission for a proposed 8,000 sq metre outlet - over 86,000 square feet - at the junction of the new road and the Magheralave Road.

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It was made an Article 31 application, deeming it to be a major application. But it seems certain the minister will accept the planners' opinion.

Residents in the area were alarmed by the plans, fearing another situation such as that faced by residents close to the Tesco store at Bentrim Road.

Local councillors have always been critical of the application with Councillor Jonathan Craig telling the local paper, the Lisburn Star: "They would need to get a change of use of the land from residential to commercial; this would create havoc with the planning system; every rule in the book would have to be overturned by the planners to allow this."

(BMcC/GK)