Plans to develop a new Lidl store and retail unit in Strabane have been given the go-ahead.

Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee approved the plans for the store which will be located at Strabane Retail Park.

Members of the Planning Committee attending the reconvened meeting in the Guildhall were informed that that the application included the redevelopment of the site that would involve the demolition of existing buildings to allow for the erection of the supermarket and retail unit.

The application also included details of access, landscaping and associated site works at lands containing units 1-4 Strabane Retail Park Branch Road and Pat Kirk Car Sales 195 Lower Main Street and located to the southeast of Branch Road North of Main Street and west of Nos 1-13 Abercorn Cottages Strabane.

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Members were informed that there were some objections to the application relating to concerns over traffic congestion and the possible impact on residential amenities but that officers were satisfied any adverse impacts were mitigated against.

The agent for the application, representing the applicant at the meeting, told elected members that this was an £8.5 million investment that will see the creation of 10 new full time jobs, the transfer of existing jobs from the old site and the creation of over 50 construction jobs. They said the investment would also be a significant contribution to local rates and offered customers in the Strabane area wider choice and services.

Planning officials at the meeting informed members of the Committee that the proposal is considered acceptable in that it is in accordance with the retail policies and key aims of the SPPS and Strabane Area Plan 2001 and they recommended the application was approved subject to a number of conditions.