Plans for Maghera Mixed-use filling station ‘recommended’

Plans for Maghera Mixed-use filling station ‘recommended’
Multi-use forecourt for Maghera recommended

A vacant site near the Coleraine Road in Maghera looks set to be converted in to a modern, mixed use forecourt.

An eight-pump filling station is proposed, along with a café and up to 60 car parking spaces, and creating 23 new jobs.

The application is made by SJG. The proposal was drawn up by WYG Planning.

According to the planning statement “It will provide a more attractive and enhanced frontage to this part of the MA11 lands than would a traditional light industrial use.

Proposed development

“In visual terms, the site is very suitable for the kind of development proposed, and the proposal has been designed to respond directly to the attributes of the area and its environs.”

A report was submitted to Mid-Ulster District Council’s planning committee ahead before 1 September. The report stated “Maghera has an extremely low vacancy rate and is performing well. The proposed development will not affect convenience goods traders, as it has been shown that it can alone be supported by available expenditure growth in the catchment.

Approval recommended

“The retail statement reiterates that the proposed development is an investment in a further convenience goods retail offer, whose scale, combination and configuration cannot be accommodated within the town centre.”

Approval was recommended.