A new £15 million distribution centre for DHL at Ballyearl Business Park in Newtownabbey has received planning approval from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

The decision, taken by the council’s planning committee, clears the way for a total investment of £18 million. The project includes a 9,340 square metre storage and distribution facility, office accommodation, solar panels, an external yard, and HGV and car parking.

The development is expected to create 80 full-time permanent jobs and safeguard 200 existing full-time positions. Around 100 construction jobs are also forecast during the building phase.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Henry Cushinan, said the investment would help retain DHL Supply Chain within the borough and generate employment across construction and distribution.

Chairman of the planning committee, Alderman Lewis Boyle, stated that the multi-million pound investment reinforced the borough’s standing as a location for distribution operations.

The planning application was processed in just over 16 weeks. The council noted that this was well inside the 30-week average processing target for major applications.