A BMW dealership is seeking permission to expand into a former supermarket unit in Coleraine.
JKC BMW has submitted a planning application for a change of use at 2 Riverside Park North. The proposal would see the existing Class A1 retail unit converted into a showroom for the sale and display of motor vehicles, alongside internal and external alterations to the building and its surrounding area.
The application was received on 10 December 2025 and validated on 17 December. Planning agents Clyde Shanks Ltd are acting on behalf of the company.
The premises was previously occupied by Lidl, which relocated to a larger store at Riverside Retail Park in February this year. The unit has remained vacant since the supermarket’s departure.
In a planning statement, JKC BMW said it has outgrown its current Ballycastle Road site, which is constrained by neighbouring land uses and surrounding infrastructure. The family-owned business, established in 1972, currently employs 85 staff across four sites in Coleraine and has been trading for more than 50 years.
The company said the move would allow it to improve customer experience and support future job creation, adding that it has been waiting for a suitable premises within Coleraine to become available.
Proposed changes to the building include additional glazing, new cladding to the main elevation, a new entrance area and the formation of a roller door to allow vehicle access. The design aims to give the building a more contemporary appearance.
The planning statement notes that other car sales and showroom businesses already operate within Riverside Park, and says the development would complement existing uses while increasing choice for customers across the North Coast.
