A major £25m Lisburn chilled food warehouse has been approved for development.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council's (LCCC) planning committee signed off the application from the local company 'PRM Distribution Ltd' on Monday (April 7).
Elected reps unanimously voted in favour of the jobs boost investment as a move away from the "stigma" and "stink" of the old 'Burn House' abattoir, which ceased operation over 30 years ago.
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Referring to the former use, Downshire West Alliance Alderman, Owen Gawith said: "It was not so much a stigma than a stink at the Burn House."
Lisburn North DUP rep, Jonathan Craig added: "I had the unfortunate pleasure of getting a guided tour of the old Burn House and it was not terribly pleasant with the smells and odours from the place.
"This new development will be a major improvement to what was there and what was planned for there. I welcome this development and it is well overdue."
The Moira Road site, adjacent to the River Lagan, had previously been granted planning permission by then Stormont Environment Minister, Alex Attwood (SDLP) to become a waste recycling facility in 2013.
The waste gasification plant, by Energos Ltd was purported to have the ability to convert 80,000 tonnes of mixed waste into electricity and heat each year. However, the development never took place with planning permission expiring in 2018.
PRM acquired the site in 2019 and put a planning application in to LCCC in December 2022. The site is currently used for HGV lorry storage.
Agent for the developer, Andy Stevens said: "The applicant proposes to invest between £20-25 million on the redevelopment to operate in conjunction with the Rathdown Road site as it wishes to retain its bases in Lisburn rather than Dublin.
"This investment in the Burn House site will ensure PRM has a modern state of the art facility to meet current and future client requirements with increased storage capacity, manufacturing and distribution co-located on one site. Rathdown will be a back-up facility."
He added: "The construction will generate a £5.7 million Gross Value Added (GVA) contribution to Lisburn and Castlereagh GDP and support 85 jobs during the construction phase of the project.
"Once open for business, PRM could create/sustain 63 local jobs, of which around 50 would be based at the development itself, and support £1.8 million of GVA.
"Once the proposed development runs at full capacity, it is estimated there would be 222 jobs created/sustained, generating £6.5 million of GVA contributions to GDP in the local economy."
The chamber also heard of new designs for the Moira Road to allow easier access and traffic management of PRM lorries and residential vehicles. Concerns were raised in chambers over the flooding of the area which could lead to potential waterway pollution at the River Lagan.
A council officer alluded to a unique flood warning and action system, saying: "As the site does flood, a review of the flood system to be used by the developer can be put in place. This is the first time I have seen this type of system in planning for flooding. The vehicles will be lifted off site with the oils."
Committee chairperson, Martin Gregg (Alliance) replied: "I did have some concerns over the flooding of the site as it is on a floodplain, however the system that will be put in place has allayed those fears."
A vote was put to the chamber with approval from all members.
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