The €12m 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 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, commented: “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 opportunities. It is fast becoming one of the UK’s most promising retail environments.”
Lotus Property was advised by Johnstone Property Consultants. Mark Johnstone, Managing Director said: “The scale of the signing is testament to the importance of physical retail stores and the continued strength of edge of town retail schemes.”
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 center.”
Dobbies was founded in 1865 as Dobbie & Co and has grown and expanded in recent years. There are currently 74 Dobbies stores throughout the UK.
