On the Square Emporium will move from Belfast to Bangor, and add a garden centre
Artist’s impression of the new antique shop and garden centre given approval outside Bangor
A new antique and garden centre, a first on the island of Ireland, has been given the green light in Co Down.
Elected representatives at the Ards and North Down Council Planning Committee this week unanimously gave the go-ahead to a new garden and antique centre, which will include a farm, deli shop, café, restaurant, and children’s play area. The site is the vacant Dickson’s Home and Garden Centre, 77 -79 Cootehall Road, Bangor, just off the Belfast Road.
The development will include extensions and replacement buildings, reconfiguration of the existing car park and new landscaping. The current proposal includes 147 car parking spaces, six disabled spaces and two van spaces. The applicant is Justro Properties Ltd, run by Justin Lowry, who purchased the Bangor site last year.
The proposal seeks to accommodate the relocation of the “On The Square Emporium” from its existing premises at Belfast Harbour Heron Road, with the addition of a new garden centre. The emporium has been described as a “treasure trove for the modern vintage lover,” and the new garden element in Bangor will have a Victorian theme. Two wooden Viking boats, used in a variety of television shows, are proposed for the play area.
The council planning report states: “On the Square Emporium merged with ‘Refound’ in 2014 and comprises a considerable collection of furniture, lighting, decor, carpets and rugs, collectables, salvage, art, garden/outdoor, ironmongery and much more.”
In the company’s supporting statement, it says the aim is to “revitalise this existing vacant garden centre, with a clear focus on reduce, reuse, recycle across both the antique and garden centre elements.” The report says it aims to be the first antique and garden centre on the island of Ireland.
The development represents an investment of approximately £5 million and will create around 60 jobs across a range of sectors.
The application received no objections from statutory bodies or third parties, and the council received 16 letters of support. Council officers recommended the application for approval.
The application site comprises a plot of land which incorporates the existing buildings associated with the former Dickson’s Centre. There were three other businesses on the site: Tobermore, Clearly Aquatics and Advanced Conservatories. Clearly Aquatics is the only other business still operating there.
The council report states: “Given the rural location and the nature of development, combined with lack of footpath on the Cootehall Road, it is unlikely that the site will be accessed on foot or bicycle.”
Appearing for the developer, Mr Tom Stokes told the chamber at Church Street, Newtownards: “The site has been largely vacant for over a decade since the garden centre’s closure. The garden centre has, in particular, fallen into disrepair in subsequent years and has resulted in a dilapidated appearance on the prong of Belfast Road.”
He said the On the Square Emporium at Belfast Harbour was already the largest antique centre in Ireland, and said the new development would “build on its success by bringing a vacant and under-utilised site back into use.”
DUP Councillor Alistair Cathcart said: “I welcome this significant vote of confidence in investment in Bangor. When someone shows that confidence, we want to show we are ready to receive that investment.
“Our planning officer did a terrific job of chasing up the statutory partners, who are always extraordinarily frustrating to deal with.”
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