A MASSIVE new Dobbies garden centre, the chain's second outlet in Northern Ireland, will open at the Junction retail park in Antrim this time next year.
Planners have given the green light for the 110,000 square foot facility, which will create 110 full- and part-time jobs.
It will be one of the largest of the chain's 73 UK stores, and represents a £10 million investment by the Junction's owners Lotus Property.
Proposals for the new Dobbies include outdoor and indoor plant areas; areas for gardening products, outdoor furniture, pets, gifting and toys, as well as cookshop and home décor; a food hall, children’s soft play area and new restaurant and café.
“We’re thrilled that planning permission has been granted for this flagship store,” Lotus Property managing director Alastair Coulson said.
“Not only is it fantastic news for the Junction and the local economy, but also a signal that Northern Ireland is open for business.”
The Junction, which regards itself as one of the UK’s most promising retail environments with regards to edge of town shopping and leisure, says it expects the store to attract a footfall of around a million visitors a year.
Lotus Property was advised by Johnstone Property Consultants, whose princila Mark Johnstone said: “This is a hugely significant retail letting, and the scale of this new Dobbies is testament to the importance of physical retail stores and the continued strength of edge-of-town retail schemes.”
Graeme Jenkins, chief executive at Dobbies, added: “This new store at the Junction builds 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.”
The Dobbies chain was established in 1865 and currently has 73 stores UK-wide.
