Plans submitted for Ballymena’s new Lidl store and it could be one of NI’s largest

CGI of Lidl’s proposed new store on St Patrick’s Link Road, Ballymena.

A significant new retail investment is being proposed for one of Ballymena’s busiest gateway locations — with plans submitted for a large-format Lidl foodstore at the junction of St Patrick’s Link Road and Broughshane Road.

The planning application is supported by a detailed Planning, Design and Access Statement setting out proposals for a purpose-built store with a gross internal floor area of 2,560 square metres, including a net sales area of 1,743 square metres.

If approved, the development would represent one of the largest Lidl stores in Northern Ireland — and a substantial addition to Ballymena’s retail offer.

A bigger, modern store for the town

The proposal outlines a contemporary single-storey foodstore in Lidl’s modern format, with customer car parking, servicing areas, landscaping and upgraded access arrangements.

The larger footprint would allow for a more spacious retail environment than older-generation stores, with wider aisles, improved circulation and an expanded product range.

During consultation, several respondents said the new store would be “much needed”, describing it as “a welcome addition to the northern area of Ballymena as it will make good quality affordable groceries easily accessible to local residents”.

Others said it would be “an improvement on Lidl’s existing store in Ballymena which is much smaller than the newer Lidl stores elsewhere” and that it would “provide more competition – positive for grocery prices” and “bring much needed new employment to Ballymena”.

Two rounds of consultation — and changes made

Site location map for Lidl’s proposed new store on St Patrick’s Link Road, Ballymena.

Proposed site layout plan for Lidl’s proposed new store on St Patrick’s Link Road, Ballymena.

Community consultation events were held in 2025, with oral feedback and eight written submissions received via email and the project website. Five of the written responses were supportive.

Concerns raised covered a range of issues including traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, flooding, tree loss, wildlife impact, character of the area, anti-social behaviour, light pollution and potential precedent for further development at Ecos Nature Park.

Traffic and access emerged as the dominant issue.

Residents highlighted existing congestion at the Ecos Roundabout and Broughshane Road exit, queried how vehicles would turn south onto St Patrick’s Link Road, and raised concerns about schoolchildren crossing Broughshane Road. Others pointed to pressure at Deramore Park and Fry’s Road during peak times.

The applicant states that it carefully considered these concerns and introduced a series of revisions before final submission.

Significant traffic and safety upgrades proposed

Plans showing traffic management and pedestrian safety enhancements around the site area of Lidl’s proposed new store on St Patrick’s Link Road, Ballymena.

Among the key changes:

• The proposed store access has been moved further from the Ecos Roundabout along St Patrick’s Link Road.

• A dedicated right-turn lane has been added.

• Toucan crossings are proposed on both Broughshane Road and St Patrick’s Link Road to improve pedestrian and cycling safety.

• Following feedback from the Principal of St Brigid’s Primary School, the Toucan crossing on Broughshane Road has been relocated closer to the Ecos Roundabout.

The scheme also includes substantial roundabout and road improvements designed to ease congestion and improve traffic flow:

• Revised lane designations and localised widening on the Broughshane Road east and west arms.

• Widening along the St Patrick’s Link Road approach to provide two lanes.

• Localised widening at the Fry’s Road arm.

• Widening of the Fry’s Road–Broughshane Road slip lane to dual lanes to improve queuing and assist drivers exiting Deramore Park.

Road widening is also proposed west of the roundabout.

The store building itself has been repositioned further from the south-western boundary to avoid affecting an existing drainage ditch.

Landscaping, biodiversity and planting

Environmental concerns were also raised during consultation, including potential loss of vegetation, biodiversity impact and screening of the development.

In response, the proposal includes:

• 72 specimen trees

• 900 woodland plants and trees

• Mixed native species hedging

• Bird nesting boxes

The Planning, Design and Access Statement states that these measures are intended to soften the development’s appearance and enhance biodiversity on site.

Engagement with local schools

After consultation feedback indicated that St Brigid’s Primary School had not been contacted, the project team wrote to both St Brigid’s Primary School and Kenbaan Community Pre School and invited comments.

The Pre School Leader said she was happy to see the project coming forward, advising that it would be positive to have a new grocery store nearby and that it would be another local feature of interest they could discuss with the children.

The Primary School Principal provided feedback on pedestrian crossing placement, which has since been reflected in the revised plans.

Balancing concerns and opportunity

Objections raised during consultation included concerns about congestion, drainage, outlook from nearby homes, light pollution, littering, food waste attracting pests, and whether development on open space land is appropriate.

Questions were also raised about the Council’s decision-making process in offering the site for sale and whether the proposal would set a precedent for further development at Ecos Park.

The applicant states that the revisions incorporated into the current submission will result in “a better quality of development”.

What happens next?

The application will now be assessed through the statutory planning process, including further consultation and technical evaluation.

If approved, the 2,560sqm store would mark one of the most significant retail developments in Ballymena in recent years — delivering a larger modern supermarket, major junction upgrades, new pedestrian crossings and substantial landscaping.

For many residents, it represents something straightforward but powerful: closer access to affordable groceries and fresh competition in the local market.

Further updates will follow as the planning process progresses.