Jim Allister formally opposes Ballymena Lidl plans in letter to council planner

Inset: North Antrim MP Jim Allister

North Antrim MP Jim Allister has formally intervened in the planning process surrounding Ballymena’s proposed new Lidl store, writing directly to a planning officer at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to urge that the application be refused.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to senior planning officer Kyle Patterson, Mr Allister said he was writing to “endorse the opposition of local residents” to the proposed St Patrick’s Link Road development.

The intervention marks a significant escalation in opposition to the proposal, which, if approved, would deliver what has been described as one of the largest Lidl stores in Northern Ireland.

The application, LA02/2026/0121/F, proposes a new 2,560 sq m supermarket on a 4.5-acre site at the junction of St Patrick’s Link Road and Broughshane Road.

In previous reporting, Lidl argued the move is necessary because its current Ballymena branch is overtrading by 35–40% above capacity, with no suitable town centre alternative capable of accommodating a modern concept store.

However, Mr Allister’s letter raises fresh legal and planning questions.

Legal challenge over land use covenant

One of the most significant issues raised in the MP’s letter concerns the legal status of the site itself.

Mr Allister states the land is owned by the council under a 999-year lease dated 4 May 1983, which he says contains restrictive covenants governing how the land can be used.

He highlights two key clauses.

The first, he says, prohibits any buildings on the site being used to “carry on any trade or business or sell alcohol.”

The second requires the land to be used as “Open Space and for recreational purposes and for no other purpose whatsoever.”

In the letter, Mr Allister writes:

“Patently, the proposed development is in flagrant breach of both of these covenants which are integral to the council’s title and binding upon it.”

He goes on to question how the application could be lawfully progressed in light of those restrictions.

Questions over council’s role in the decision

Mr Allister also raises concerns about whether Mid and East Antrim Borough Council should be the body determining the application.

Given the council’s direct financial and ownership interest in the site, he questions whether the matter should instead be called in by the Department for Infrastructure.

He writes:

“Given the Council’s direct proprietary and financial interest in the site, should it be making this planning decision, or should the matter be called in by the department?”

That procedural point could become a significant issue as the application moves through the planning process.

Concerns over local character

The MP’s letter also sets out detailed planning objections.

Mr Allister argues the site remains fundamentally open space / greenfield land, rejecting any suggestion it should be treated as brownfield.

He describes attempts to classify it otherwise as:

“the rather disingenuous attempt to depict this as an urban brownfield site”

He argues that placing such a large supermarket at this location would be “wholly incongruous and out of character with the surrounding area.”

Particular emphasis is placed on the residential character of the Broughshane Road approach into Ballymena.

According to the letter, the scale of the development would irreversibly alter the character of the area.

Traffic and safety concerns

Traffic pressure is another major issue raised.

Mr Allister states the development could add 8,000 vehicles per day to an already heavily trafficked strategic route into the town.

He warns this would be “unbearable” at peak times.

The letter also raises concerns over road safety for schoolchildren, suggesting the proposed car park could become an informal drop-off and pick-up point for nearby schools.

Flooding and drainage questions

Further concerns are raised around flood risk and drainage.

Mr Allister questions whether sufficient consideration has been given to the site’s possible flood plain status and whether the public sewer network has capacity to support the development.

He also queries the management of surface water runoff from the supermarket and associated car park.

Background to the proposal

As previously reported by Love Ballymena, Lidl says the new store is needed because its current branch is significantly over capacity.

The retailer’s planning documents state the existing store is overtrading by around 35–40%, creating congestion, limited stock space and parking issues.

The proposed St Patrick’s Link Road site was selected, Lidl says, because it is the only viable 4.5-acre plot capable of accommodating the retailer’s modern store format.

Plans also include:

• 40 permanent jobs

• up to 150 construction jobs

• EV charging points

• solar panels

• major traffic upgrades

• new pedestrian and cycle crossings

Lidl also argues the relocation would remove more than 10,000 HGV town-centre miles annually, as deliveries would no longer need to navigate central Ballymena streets.

The application remains under consideration.

---

At a glance

• Jim Allister has written to planners opposing the proposed Ballymena Lidl

• The letter was sent to planning officer Kyle Patterson

• The MP says the development breaches land covenants dating back to 1983

• Questions have been raised over whether the council should decide the application

• Concerns include traffic, flooding, drainage and local character

• Lidl says the current Ballymena branch is overtrading by 35–40%

• The proposed new store would be 2,560 sq m on a 4.5-acre site

• Around 40 permanent jobs are proposed

• The application remains under review by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council