Plans for Dobbies to open a £10m flagship store in Antrim, expected to attract one million customers per year and create 100 jobs, have been given the green light.
The 110,000 sq ft unit will be based at The Junction Retail Park and will be one of the largest in Dobbies’ garden centre estate.
It will sell plants and gardening products, books, toys and gifts, as well as seasonal items. The store will also feature a food hall and restaurant, a pet department, homeware and a cookshop.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Billy Webb said: “This new flagship store will bring over 150 new full and part time jobs to the Borough and represents another significant investment which will further enhance Antrim’s reputation as a destination for retail, leisure, food and hospitality.”
Graeme Jenkins, chief executive at Dobbies, added: “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.”
The Dobbies chain was established in 1865 and today has 73 stores UK-wide.
