'We are delighted': Northern Ireland timber supplier secures planning green light for new £10million storage and distribution hub

Planners have unanimously approved plans for a new purpose-built storage and distribution hub for James Latham PLC at Ballyearl Business Park, unlocking a £10 million private-sector investment in the borough.

The investment is estimated to generate a Gross Value Added (GVA) contribution of £2.76 million per annum to the regional economy, while consultation materials identify around 35 FTE jobs being brought to the area, alongside apprenticeships and wider skills development opportunities.

The approval by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee allows work to progress on a new warehouse building with ancillary office space, an external yard, HGV and car parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure on lands approximately 150 metres south of Houston’s Corner Roundabout, Newtownabbey.

James Latham is a long-established specialist timber products supplier operating 12 distribution hubs across the UK and Ireland. Its existing Duncrue Street facility has been outgrown and no longer provides the storage capacity, operational efficiency or sustainability performance required to support the company’s future growth.

The new Ballyearl hub will provide modern, fully enclosed storage and weather-protected loading and unloading, greater stockholding capacity and improved supply-chain resilience. The site also benefits from immediate access to the strategic road network and is within a short distance of Belfast Port.

A spokesperson for James Latham PLC said: “We are delighted to have secured planning approval for our new facility at Ballyearl Business Park. This is a significant investment in the future of James Latham in Northern Ireland and will provide the modern, purpose-built hub we need to continue growing and serving customers across the region.

“The development will strengthen our supply chain, improve resilience and increase our ability to hold the high-quality and increasingly sustainable timber products required by the construction and manufacturing sectors. We look forward to moving the project into delivery and making a long-term investment in Antrim & Newtownabbey.”

The facility will support a broad customer base including builders’ merchants, joiners, furniture and kitchen manufacturers, fit-out companies, landscapers and building contractors. It will also strengthen the availability of specialist timber products as the construction sector increasingly adopts Modern Methods of Construction and timber-frame technology.

James Latham is FSC and PEFC certified, and submitted information states that 92% of its products were sustainably certified in 2024. The Ballyearl facility is also targeted to achieve BREEAM Very Good accreditation, reinforcing the company’s focus on responsible sourcing and more sustainable construction.

The application was supported by Avison Young, which provided a range of services including planning, property advisory and project management.

Speaking following the approval at planning committee, Jago Bret, principal and managing director at Avison Young, said: “Securing approval for this important investment is a strong outcome for James Latham and for Antrim and Newtownabbey.

"Avison Young has been pleased to lead the planning, property advisory and project management work, helping to bring forward a high-quality development that will support the company’s continued growth, strengthen its regional operations and deliver meaningful economic benefits.”

The approval followed a comprehensive pre-application community consultation process, including two public information events, engagement with neighbouring properties, a dedicated consultation website and digital and postal feedback channels.

The next steps in the development process will be undertaken subject to the issuing of the final planning approval documents.