Developers in Antrim have hit a dead end over proposals to build a range of leisure and to enlarge existing hotel facilities.

The revamp, in the Junction One shopping centre area of Antrim has been denied by planners, it was revealed at a recent meeting of Antrim Borough Council.

Scottish company, Culzean Estates Limited made the applications to use land to the immediate East of the existing Lidl Foodstore at Junction One as well as land near Stiles Way Roundabout and Ballymena Road for a leisure unit.

It had been hoped that this development would house a 10-pin bowling facility and family entertainment area, a restaurant with outdoor miniature golf and car parking.

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However, it was refused on the grounds that the proposal is contrary to the Antrim Area Plan 1984 – 2001 relating to retailing, town centres and commercial leisure developments as it lies outside the primary retail core of Antrim Town Centre.

The same company had also applied to develop land adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express Hotel.

The proposed extension to the existing 90-bedroom hotel was to provide 30 ensuite bedrooms and was refused on the same grounds.

The planning refusal comes just weeks after the high profile opening of an Antrim town centre initiative - representing a £5 million investment - which has created a major extension onto the Castle Centre and the re-branding of the original outlet as Castle Mall, which has seen significant numbers of new job opportunities created.

Commentators will see the recent planning refusal as evidence of local politicans actively protecting the town centre retailing, as opposed to further developing the alreday substantial out-of-town facilities.

See: Antrim Centre Boosts Jobs

(BMcC)