Mystery Cityside retailer seeks to open new store at Crescent Link

A national retailer currently trading on the city side is seeking to open another outlet in the Waterside creating up to 50 new jobs, it’s been claimed.

However, the developer behind the project has refused to identify the ‘national retailer’ he claims is currently involved in discussions with a view to opening a new store at Crescent Link.

The latest development comes after Home Bargains distanced itself from the new store after the same developer told a previous meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee that the discount retailer would be opening up a new Waterside store at the unit.

Following that meeting, Home Bargains, who will open a new Derry store on the Strand Road in March, issued a letter stating that it was not attached to the proposal.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of the council’s Planning Committee, Ciaran Murdock, of the applicants, Genova North West Ltd, said that he was now in discussions with another ‘national retailer’, who he said had a ‘long-term’ commitment to the site.

He had previously lodged an application with the council seeking approval to allow ‘mixed retailing’ at Unit 4, Crescent Link Retail Park, which was occupied by World of Furniture.

Mr Murdock said that he had ‘clarified their name and identity’ of the new retailer with the council’s Head of Planning, before adding that the operator had an ‘existing store on the other side of the river’.

However, speaking at the meeting, Andrew Ryan, of TLT Solicitors, representing the applicant, requested that the ‘identity of retailer be kept confidential at this time’, but added that it had been made known to ‘senior planners’.

The meeting also heard from those objecting to the proposal, including Andy Stephens of Matrix Planning, who said that councillors had been ‘sold a pup’ with the application, as they had been ‘totally misinformed’ by the applicant.

He made the comments in regard to Mr Murdock’s previous claims that if approved, he would also undertake works to improved access at Crescent Link and in turn reduce traffic congestion, which

would entail the redevelopment of the car park and the road spanning from the roundabout to the McDonald’s outlet at Crescent Link.

The meeting also heard from Robin Young of Niche Drinks, who have already been granted planning permission for a new supermarket on the Rossdowney Road.

Mr Young outlined his objections to the plans, explaining that Niche needed to sell the Rossdowney Road site to relocate their Cream Liqueur business, but that they couldn’t do that while operators ‘waited to see what happens on Crescent Link’ rather than the Rossdowney Road.

Commenting, the Waterside Sinn Fein councillor Christopher Jackson said that he welcomed the fact that ‘agreement was coming with another retailer’ in regards to Crescent Link, and despite the concerns being raised, they ‘couldn’t turn their nose up’ at the prospect of 40 -50 new jobs.

He then asked for assurances from Mr Murdock that the new jobs would not come at the sake of existing jobs in Derry.

Mr Murdock replied that no jobs were at risk as the new Crescent Link store would be ‘over and above’ the existing store on the city side and represented a £750,000 investment in the local economy.

Sinn Fein councillor Patricia Logue then expressed her own concerns over the proposal, given that council had been previously told that the Home Bargains deal was ‘signed, sealed and delivered’.

She then asked Mr Murdock if he would be willing to carry out the improvements to the car park and access to the site at Crescent Link if planning approval was not granted.

Mr Murdock replied: “I do not know if could do that financially,” before adding it would be a ‘massive ask’ of him to carry out the work without having an operator committed to the site.

The council’s Head of Planning, Maura Fox, confirmed that she had received an email from the applicants but had been asked ‘not to disclose’ that information.

She added that while she was in a ‘difficult position’, the name of the retailer was ‘immaterial’ to any decision made by the council.

The SDLP’s Angela Dobbins then proposed that council backed the planners’ recommendation to refuse the application, which was seconded by her party colleague, Gus Hastings.

The matter then went to a vote and failed.

Sinn Fein’s Christopher Jackson then proposed that council go against the planners’ recommendation and issue an approval for the site, which was passed following a majority vote.