The radical overhaul by Castlebawn, a joint venture between Eastwood Property and R&A Group, promises to create up to 2,000 jobs and extend the town centre.

The Northern Ireland Roads Service approved road changes that will clear the way for the scheme and, under the new agreement, Castlebawn will pay £4m to finance the works.

The 24-ha site has planning approval for a mixed-use development, including retail warehousing, leisure and business park, car parking, a new link road between Comber Road and Portaferry Road and a new pedestrian access to the development from Court Street.

The developers claim the three-stage development will inject new vigour into the retail offer by vastly improving the road system, expanding the town centre, developing the cultural heritage and transforming it into a profoundly attractive visitor destination. The scheme could be completed by 2009.

According to the Planning Service, future proposals should be sensitive to its location, which means it is unlikely to take the form of a traditional mall.

The settlement proposal stated: "They should reflect the scale of buildings which typify the surrounding area of historic townscape including the medieval friary church ruins, listed buildings, other buildings and features of local historic interest and character and the historic planned development of Court Street and should also reflect the nature and scale of the garden enclosure.

"Development of the backlands at Court Street should take the form of traditionally constructed outbuildings maintaining ridge heights, materials and details."

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend