The British supermarket giant Safeway, which recently announced the takeover of the Wellworths chain in Northern Ireland, has announced plans to build a 50,000 square foot out-of-town superstore close to the M2 motorway on the outskirts of Antrim.
The Coleraine-based developers ACI have lodged an outline planning application for a superstore, petrol station, retail warehousing, and drive-through restaurant on the site.
The proposal is likely to meet with considerable opposition, and will reopen the debate on the question of out-of-town retail developments and their likely effect on town centre businesses.
One of the other recently-arrived British chains, Tesco, which has bought the Stewarts/Crazy Prices group in Northern Ireland and the Quinnsworth chain in the South for £630 million, has announced that it is to carry out a major renovation of the Stewarts store in Antrim town. The work is due to begin early next year, and is likely to cost about £1 million.
The other British chain, Sainsbury's - which has run into fierce planning problems in its efforts to build a chain of out-of-town superstores - is also understood to have reached agreement to buy a site at Newry, Co Down.
Meanwhile, teams of buyers from Safeway have been visiting suppliers throughout Northern Ireland with a view to increasing the amount of locally-sourced merchandise.
