THE man behind plans to develop a £57 million ‘wellness resort’ in Bushmills has claimed it will be first for Northern Ireland.
Lexy Halliday is best known around the north coast village for his family’s Citroen car dealership business Hallidays of Bushmills.
The proposals for the new 150-bedroom hotel and ‘eco lodges’ centre on the site currently used for the family-owned car sales business on Straid Road, close to the Old Bushmills Distillery.
A pre-application notification (PAN) was submitted to Causeway Coast and Glens Council last week under the name L&J Eagry. It also includes plans for a spa, pool and restaurant facilities.
A community consultation has now been launched ahead of the submission of full application.
Mr Halliday said the development has the potential to create up to 350 jobs, and address a shortage in tourist accommodation in the tourism hotspot.
He said the resort will focus on health and wellness tourism.
“Our vision is built on a number of pillars. We want to maximise the potential of the site and location through the creation of a unique and diverse resort of appeal to domestic and international visitors. One that promotes health and wellness, not just for tourists but for the local community too," he said.
“Our aim is encourage people to get out there and get active, walk, cycle, surf, swim, soak in the beauty and breathe the clean air; then return to an environment where wellness is integrated into the fabric and heart of our design. A seamless transition from outside to indoors.”
