Hearing due for Bombardier retail development plan at site

The news comes after the international engineering giant last week announced job losses across its Northern Irish operations which may rise to over 1,000, sparking calls for the trade minister to consider resigning.

The Church Road site, close to the sprawling commercial area around Abbeycentre, is still used by the firm.

Bombardier said it still has staff there producing aircraft components, although the bulk of its Newtownabbey employees are at its Doagh Road facility.

There are a string of other sites across the Province.

At Church Road, approximately 3,000 sq/m of business and light industrial floor space is being proposed in the development.

A number of objections have been made against the application, including one from the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association.

It is understood the hearing will take place at the end of March or in early April, with an exact date yet to be confirmed by council officers.

A final decision on the outline application will be taken by the council’s Planning Committee.

• Read related story- Bombardier says Church Road site is ‘not for sale’