The Conway Group is planning to bring a major new food store to its home town for the first time. The proposed development has an investment value of £17M and could create over 200 jobs during construction and on completion.

Merit Investment and Properties has submitted a full planning application for the development, which would be located on an 13 acre site on the Moneymore Road, within the town’s development limit, and will include a modern stand alone 69,000 sq ft food store, a six pump petrol filling station, car parking for 400 cars, and an on site car wash facility. Construction is expected to take one year to complete on receipt of planning approval.

As part of the proposed plans, Merit will fund the creation of a new roundabout at the junction of the A31 Moneymore Road and Coolshinney Road in order to improve access and provide a traffic management and calming solution on the main southern approach to the town, an area close to local schools. The plans also connect to the existing shared pedestrian and cycle network, ensuring that the proposed store is accessible by foot or bicycle, as well as cars.

Jarlath Conway, Director at Conway Group said, “Magherafelt currently has no representation from any of the main food store operators and a lot of food and grocery sales are leaking to nearby towns as shoppers travel to Cookstown and Ballymena for big name food retailers. Therefore this proposed food store will greatly enhance the town’s retail offering and should encourage further investment.

“As a local company we are keen to promote local schemes such as this which will make Magherafelt an attractive retail destination and complement the existing retail offering in the town centre and local shopping centre. We are in discussions with a number of major food operators who are keen to bring their brands to the area, and we expect to make further announcements later this year.”

Merit is working with Architects and Planning Consultants, Ostick & Williams, Belfast and Roads Consultant, RPS Group