Fermanagh and Omagh District Council received a retail report confirming no significant adverse impact on Omagh town centre from a proposed Sainsbury's supermarket at Great Northern Retail Park. The £12 million development cleared its final planning hurdle.

The store projects £23.5 million in annual grocery sales. Around 60 percent of that trade will shift from Asda on Dromore Road in Strabane. Asda currently records £60 million annual turnover there. The diversion could total £14 million.

Lidl and other supermarkets face smaller trade reductions. Local shops in Omagh, Fintona and Dromore will see minimal effects. Total grocery spending in the Omagh area should reach £136 million by 2030.

Omagh town centre turnover stands at £109.1 million. Local convenience stores generate £16.4 million combined. The report finds sufficient capacity for the Sainsbury's and a potential second supermarket at Strule Riverside.

Strule Riverside, at the Strathroy Link Road and Derry Road junction, dates back over a decade. It includes plans for retail units, healthcare, leisure and a hotel. Early site works occurred but progress stalled. The superstore there will not open by 2027.