Planning permission has been granted for a 110,000 Sq ft Dobbies Garden Centre in Northern Ireland, marking one of the largest retail lettings in the UK and Ireland in recent years.
The £10m project at The Junction, a Lotus Property-owned retail and leisure park, will be Dobbies’ second venture in Northern Ireland, its largest store in Ireland, and one of the largest in its UK portfolio.
Proposals for the 110,000 Sq ft store include outdoor and indoor plant areas; areas for gardening products, outdoor furniture, pets, gifting and toys, as well as cookshop and home décor; a foodhall, a children’s soft play area and new restaurant and café.
The store is expected to attract a footfall of around one million visitors per annum, creating 110 new full and part-time jobs.
Alastair Coulson, managing director at Lotus Property, welcomed the news: “We’re thrilled to receive the news that planning permission has been granted for this flagship store. Not only is it fantastic news for The Junction and the local economy but also a signal that Northern Ireland is open for business. It is fast becoming one of the UK’s most promising retail environments, especially with regards edge of town shopping and leisure.”
Graeme Jenkins, CEO at Dobbies said: “We’re delighted to have been given the green light to move ahead with our plans to open our store at The Junction, building on the success of our established Lisburn garden centre.
“Its prime position off the M2, just north of Belfast City Centre and towards the popular Antrim coast, will allow us to bring the Dobbies’ experience to a new area within Northern Ireland.”
