Lidl reveals why it wants two Ballymena stores, with 50 jobs and figures showing shoppers heading to Antrim
Proposed site of new concept Lidl store in Ballymena with inset CGI of store entrance.
Friday 30 October 2026
Lidl has revealed it has spent more than a decade searching for a second supermarket site in Ballymena, as fresh planning evidence outlines an £8 million investment, 50 permanent jobs and the retailer's intention to keep its existing store open.
The discount supermarket chain says its current Ballymena branch, which opened in 2002, is now the third smallest of its 44 stores across Northern Ireland, with limited space and parking contributing to shoppers travelling elsewhere.
New customer data shows that almost a third of recorded Lidl shopping visits by customers from Ballymena and Broughshane are to its Antrim supermarket, providing a striking insight into the demand the retailer believes a second local store could address.
The findings are contained in an October 2026 response prepared by MBA Planning on behalf of Lidl Northern Ireland, following an independent retail audit which questioned whether sufficient need had been demonstrated for its proposed supermarket at Broughshane Road and St Patrick's Link Road, near the Ecos Roundabout.
A search spanning more than 10 years
Lidl's latest submission confirms that its search for an additional Ballymena location has been underway for more than a decade, with the company arguing that the need for a larger supermarket has become increasingly pressing.
The document states:
“Lidl has been searching for an additional site in Ballymena for more than 10 years and the need for a larger store has become more acute with the more time that has passed.”
The existing supermarket has just 871 square metres of sales space and 63 parking spaces, while Lidl says it cannot accommodate the retailer's full modern product range.
Its planning consultants also point to evidence of the store's strong trading performance. In 2018, the branch was estimated to be trading £3.5 million above its benchmark level, a measure of expected sales performance for a store of its size.
Updated forecasts suggest that by 2028, the existing Ballymena store could be trading £6.2 million above that benchmark, even after accounting for the proposed development.
Lidl argues that this demonstrates the strength of local demand and supports its intention to operate two supermarkets in the town.
Why local shoppers are travelling to Antrim
CGI aerial view of the new concept Lidl store site proposed for Ballymena.
Among the most revealing findings is an analysis of shopping visits made by existing Lidl customers living in the Ballymena and Broughshane area.
The retailer examined customer data from the most recent quarter and found that only 56% of recorded visits were to its existing Ballymena supermarket.
A further 31% were to Lidl in Antrim, while 13% were to other Lidl stores.
The figures relate specifically to Lidl customer visits rather than all grocery shopping, but suggest that a substantial proportion of local customers already travel outside Ballymena to use the retailer's larger stores.
Lidl's Antrim supermarket has 1,420 square metres of sales space and 157 parking spaces, compared with 871 square metres and 63 spaces at Ballymena.
The company argues that the difference in store size, product availability and parking provision helps explain why some local customers choose to travel.
A representation submitted to the planning portal on 11 August 2026 provides a personal example of that shopping behaviour.
The resident wrote:
“We currently shop at Lidl in Antrim, more produce stocked and more parking available compared to Ballymena when we shop on Saturdays. My partner and I have been living in ballymena for the past year, we have always been shopping at lidl, we will come back to Ballymena to shop and support local when new shop is built.”
What the proposed £8m supermarket would provide
CGI view from Fry’s Road of the new concept Lidl store proposed for Ballymena.
The development would be located on vacant land immediately south of the Ecos Roundabout, with the proposed supermarket considerably larger than Lidl's existing Ballymena branch.
The main features include:
• An £8 million investment, according to the applicant
• 50 proposed permanent jobs, equivalent to 33 full-time positions based on a 37.5-hour working week
• Approximately 1,743 square metres of net sales space, including 1,394 square metres for groceries and other convenience goods
• 151 parking spaces, including eight accessible spaces and six parent-and-child spaces
• Two electric vehicle charging spaces and six cycle parking spaces
• New pedestrian and cycle crossings on Broughshane Road and St Patrick's Link Road
• Road improvements around the Ecos Roundabout and the Frys Road to Broughshane Road slip lane
The proposed opening hours are 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm to 6pm on Sundays, subject to the necessary approvals.
Lidl says the new store would be large enough to accommodate its full product range, with wider aisles and improved facilities for customers.
Existing Ballymena Lidl would remain open
One of the most significant clarifications in the new submission concerns the future of the current supermarket.
The independent retail audit, prepared by Nexus Planning for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, had requested assurances about whether Lidl intended to retain its existing Ballymena operation.
The retailer's response states:
“Lidl fully intend to trade both the existing and proposed stores, subject to planning permission.”
This is an important distinction because the application is for an additional supermarket rather than a straightforward relocation.
However, the statement represents Lidl's current intention and does not, by itself, amount to a binding guarantee that both stores would operate indefinitely.
The future of the existing branch is particularly relevant to the assessment of potential trade diversion and the wider impact on Ballymena town centre.
£11.2m annual grocery sales forecast
CGI aerial view of the new concept Lidl store site proposed for Ballymena.
Lidl's updated retail assessment projects annual convenience-goods turnover of approximately £11.2 million at the proposed supermarket.
That figure represents forecast sales of groceries and related everyday goods, rather than entirely new spending generated for Ballymena. Some business would be expected to transfer from existing supermarkets, including Lidl's current branch.
The applicant's assessment suggests that Lidl, Sainsbury's, Iceland and Tesco in Ballymena collectively trade more than £70 million above their benchmark levels.
Lidl uses this calculation to argue that there is sufficient grocery spending in the area to support another supermarket without causing unacceptable harm to existing retail centres.
The submission also points to Mid and East Antrim's retail study, which identified capacity for between 4,500 and 5,800 square metres of additional convenience retail floorspace in Ballymena by 2026.
After deducting 1,419 square metres associated with Home Bargains, the applicant calculates remaining capacity of between 3,081 and 4,381 square metres.
The proposed Lidl would provide 1,394 square metres of convenience sales space, which the retailer argues falls comfortably within that estimated capacity.
However, the existence of capacity for additional shopping floorspace does not automatically establish that a new supermarket should be approved outside the town centre.
Independent experts questioned Lidl's original case
The latest submission follows an independent assessment by Nexus Planning, commissioned by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to scrutinise Lidl's retail impact, need and alternative-site evidence.
As previously reported by Love Ballymena in September, the consultants concluded that important questions remained unanswered about the justification for the development and its potential consequences for Ballymena town centre.
The audit stated:
“we are not satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated either that there is an identified need for the proposal, and/or that it would not cause significant adverse impacts on Ballymena town centre.”
The consultants did not recommend outright refusal of the application. Instead, they sought further information to allow the planning authority to reach a properly informed decision.
Their concerns included the size of the proposed customer catchment area, supermarket turnover assumptions, potential trade diversion and the future of Lidl's existing Ballymena branch.
The October response seeks to address those issues through updated calculations, customer data and further explanations of the retailer's commercial and planning case.
What would a second Lidl mean for the town centre
The potential effect on Ballymena town centre remains one of the most important considerations in the application.
Lidl's revised assessment estimates the proposed development would have an overall retail impact of 1.9% on the town centre.
When the existing Lidl store is excluded from the calculation, the estimated impact on the remaining town centre retail businesses falls to 0.8%.
The applicant also calculates an impact of less than 3.2% on the town centre's convenience-goods retail activity when the existing Lidl is excluded, alongside a 0.4% impact on comparison-goods retailing, which includes non-food products.
These figures are projections prepared on Lidl's behalf and remain subject to consideration by the council and its independent advisers.
The company argues that the effects would be sufficiently limited to avoid significant adverse harm to Ballymena town centre.
But the wider planning question is not simply whether another supermarket would be commercially successful. It is whether the additional choice, investment and employment can be delivered without undermining the town's existing retail areas.
Why other Ballymena locations were rejected
CGI car park view of the new concept Lidl store proposed for Ballymena.
The latest submission also addresses alternative locations identified during the independent retail assessment.
One is the former Northern Regional College site at Trostan Avenue, which is within Ballymena town centre.
Lidl says the approximately 0.85-hectare site is too small for the proposed supermarket, even allowing flexibility in the size of the development.
Its consultants also argue that the location lacks the visibility required for a modern food store and say there is no evidence that the site is currently available.
The independent audit had additionally considered the possibility of incorporating an adjoining council-owned car park, which could increase the overall site area to approximately 1.16 hectares.
Another location examined was the former John Crane Flexibox factory site at Queen Street.
Lidl says enquiries through its agent established that the site was unavailable, while also arguing that its previous industrial use means the land is protected for economic development purposes under the local planning framework.
Other locations examined during the wider assessment included the former Primark premises in the Tower Centre and the former Wyse Buys building on Church Street.
Although Nexus Planning raised questions about some alternatives, it reached a favourable conclusion on the separate planning test that examines whether a more suitable town centre or edge-of-centre location is available.
The consultants stated:
“we are satisfied that the proposals pass the sequential test.”
That conclusion supports an important element of Lidl's case, but does not resolve the outstanding questions about retail need and potential town centre impact.
Affordability and access for nearby communities
The retailer is also highlighting the potential benefits of discount grocery shopping for households facing financial pressures.
The proposed supermarket would be located within Braidwater ward, close to Fair Green, which was ranked among Northern Ireland's 10% most deprived wards in the 2017 Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure.
The submission cites 2021 Census figures showing that 32% of households in Fair Green had no access to a private car or van, compared with 17% across Mid and East Antrim.
Lidl argues that the new supermarket would improve access to affordable groceries for nearby residents, including those who rely on walking or public transport.
Its planning evidence suggests approximately 3,400 people would live within walking distance of the proposed store.
The retailer has also submitted a price comparison dated 21 October 2026, claiming a selected trolley of everyday goods cost £104.45 at Lidl compared with £138.81 at Tesco, using Lidl Plus and Clubcard prices respectively.
That represents a saving of £34.36, or approximately 25% against the Tesco basket total.
The comparison reflects the particular products, locations, loyalty prices and date examined, rather than a universal price difference across all grocery shopping.
Council decision will determine future of plans
The proposed supermarket remains under consideration by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council under planning reference LA02/2026/0121/F.
The application also involves wider planning matters, including traffic, road safety, drainage, environmental considerations and the effect of the development on the surrounding area.
The latest response provides substantially more detail about Lidl's long-running ambition for another Ballymena store, including its trading performance, the shopping habits of local customers and the company's assessment of the potential consequences for existing retailers.
For shoppers, the prospect is of two Lidl supermarkets offering greater choice and convenience, alongside 50 proposed jobs and an £8 million investment. For existing businesses, the question remains how that additional competition could affect spending and footfall across the town.
The council must now weigh those competing considerations, alongside the independent retail advice and wider planning evidence, before deciding whether Lidl's decade-long search for a second Ballymena location can finally lead to a new supermarket.
