Home Bargains eyes major new store at former car showroom site in Antrim

TJ Morris Ltd, owner of Home Bargains, has acquired the former car showroom site in Antrim and plans to expands its retail footprint

Discount retailer Home Bargains is planning a significant expansion in Antrim, with proposals lodged to convert a former car showroom into what would be its 33rd store in Northern Ireland.

TJ Morris Ltd, the Liverpool-based company behind the popular discount chain, has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, signalling its intention to redevelop the former Townparks Car Sales site on the Ballymena Road.

The move follows the closure of the long-established, family-run dealership last summer. Townparks Car Sales, founded in 1969, ceased trading due to retirement, marking the end of more than five decades of local business history at the site.

Plans for a larger retail unit

The newly built Home Bargains store that opened in 2025 in Ballymena

Planning documents indicate that TJ Morris is proposing a 24,000 sq ft Home Bargains store, almost double the size of the former 12,313 sq ft showroom.

The site extends to approximately 2.3 acres and includes plans for associated landscaping, car parking, access and site works.

The property, which had recently been marketed at £50,000 per month, is understood to have been secured by the retailer as part of its ongoing expansion across the region.

Home Bargains currently operates 32 stores across Northern Ireland, with its most recent opening taking place in Enniskillen last July. If approved, the Antrim outlet would become the chain’s 33rd store, reinforcing its growing footprint in the local retail market.

Public consultation launched

As required for major planning applications, the PAN triggers a public consultation process, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to view and comment on the proposals before a full planning application is submitted.

An in-person public drop-in event will take place at:

Holiday Inn Express, Ballymena Road, Antrim BT41 4LL

Wednesday, 12 March 2026, from 2pm to 7pm

Members of the public will be able to view display boards outlining the proposals and submit feedback via printed comment cards. A number of local elected representatives have also been invited to attend.

In addition, a dedicated consultation website will go live on 9 March 2026 and will remain available for more than 28 days, closing on 10 April 2026. The online platform will host digital versions of the exhibition boards, along with an easy-to-use feedback form and direct email contact with the technical team.

Wider expansion plans

The Antrim proposal forms part of broader growth plans by TJ Morris across Northern Ireland. The company has also submitted a PAN in Newry, outlining proposals for a mixed-use development incorporating retail and industrial space on a 37-acre site between Carnbane Industrial Estate and Damolly Retail Park.

Local impact

If approved, the Antrim store could bring new retail jobs to the area while breathing fresh life into a prominent roadside site that has stood vacant since the closure of Townparks Car Sales.