Hundreds of jobs on the horizon with double jobs boost for Lisburn

The news came in the same week that Environment Minister Edwin Poots gave the go ahead for a 25 million redevelopment project at the Dairy Farm Centre, which could see 200 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs also being created.

The Dobbies project, which will incorporate pioneering environmentally-friendly features, will create 120 jobs.

Stuart Wright, Dobbies director of property, said: "We can now press on with construction on the site. We really want to be open by November 2010 at the latest and that means we have got to work to a very tight timetable. I would hope to see contractors starting to transform the site by April."

The company says the new Garden World, located just off the Saintfield Road Roundabout of the M1, will bring a 'new experience in garden centres to Northern Ireland'.

It will include a garden centre with an extensive range of plants, horticulture and gardening products, a locally-supplied Farm Foodhall, a high-quality restaurant offering freshly prepared meals and home-baking, and specialist aquatics all under one roof. The external areas will consist of an outdoor planting area and themed demonstration gardens will ensure the quality of the leisure destination is maximised.

Mr Wright continued: "We want to thank local elected representatives for their continued support and particularly the Planning Service which provided an excellent service in processing and determining the amended application. This represents a multi-million pound investment in Lisburn and will create about 120 new jobs for the community, all of which in turn will boost the local economy for many years to come."

Dobbies said its Lisburn store would be guided by the company's environmental policy, which aims to raise the practice of energy conservation, sustainable sourcing and recycling across the business. Dobbies also prides itself on links with local communities – through gardening demonstrations, supporting horticultural initiatives and the Dobbies Little Seedlings Club which encourages children to take an interest in gardening.

They say other Northern Ireland companies will also benefit from the proposed garden centre, as they are keen to source local suppliers to fill the shelves of their Farm Foodhall, sell produce for the restaurant and provide other goods and services.

Councillor Andrew Ewing welcomed the news: "Not only will it attract more visitors to the Lisburn area it will also create employment in the building process of this magnificent facility" he said.